South Yorkshire Times, August 17, 1940

Sailor Killed

Mexborough Man Who Served in Great War

Official notification was received by his wife on Monday that William Perkins (42) of 38, York Street, Mexborough, had been killed.

Perkins is believed to have been serving in the armed trawler Edwardian, which brought down two German planes, but suffered casualties among the crew.

Perkins served in the Navy during the last war, and he volunteered for service, again in October last.

Since 1925 he had been employed at Mex-borough Electricity Works. first as a stoker and later as a collector.

A few months ago while on leave, he was overcome by fumes in the bedroom of a burning house in Belfont Street, where he had rushed to give assistance, and he was carried out unconscious by special constables and civilians. After being revived in the street, he refused to go to hosital for treatment because he had to go away early on the following day to rejoin his ship.

He was serving in a minesweeper at that time and since then he had been engaged in evacuation operations at Narvik and Dunkirk and had served in the Mediterranean.

From C.W.G.C.:

STOKER  WILLIAM PERKINS

Service Number: LT/KX 104844
Regiment & Unit/Ship  Royal Naval Patrol Service  H.M. Trawler Edwardian.

Date of Death Died 11 August 1940
Age 42 years old

Buried or commemorated at MEXBOROUGH CEMETERY Sec. B. Cons. Grave 29. United Kingdom

Additional Info
Son of Joseph and Kathleen Perkins; husband of Blanche Helen Perkins, of Mexborough.

Personal Inscription
“THEIRS IS THE GLORY”. MAY THE JOYS HE MISSED ON LIFE’S HIGHWAY BE GIVEN TO HIM IN HEAVEN