John Perie
Sapper, Royal Engineers
- Register No.
- 983 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Sapper all Sappers →
- Unit
- Royal Engineers (register: Corps of Royal Engineers) all Corps of Royal Engineers VCs →
- Date of action
- 18 June 1855 on this day → all of 1855 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Crimean War
- London Gazette
- 24th February, 1857 on this day → all of 1857 →
- Born
- in August 1829 at Huntly, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
- Died
- 17th September 1874 at Aberdeen, Scotland
- Memorial / grave
- not known
Digest of citation
On 18th June 1855 at Sebastopol, Crimea, Sapper Perie showed conspicuous gallantry, along with a Lieutenant Gerald Graham (reg No. 474), in leading a ladder party of sailors at the assault on the Redan. He also volunteered to go with the officer, helping him to bring in a wounded sailor who was lying in the open, even though he had received a a musket wound in the side
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
PERIE, John. (reg No. 983).
Sapper. Royal Engineers.
London Gazetted on 24th February, 1857.
Born in August 1829 at Huntly, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
Died on 17th September 1874 at Aberdeen, Scotland.
Memorial not known.
Digest of Citation reads: On 18th June 1855 at Sebastopol, Crimea, Sapper Perie showed conspicuous gallantry, along with a Lieutenant Gerald Graham (reg No. 474), in leading a ladder party of sailors at the assault on the Redan. He also volunteered to go with the officer, helping him to bring in a wounded sailor who was lying in the open, even though he had received a a musket wound in the side.
Additional information:. Sapper Perie also held the Médaille Militaire of France. Excerpt from the London Gazette,24th February 1857: "No. 854, John Perie, Sapper, Royal Engineers. Conspicuous Valour in leading assailants with the Ladders to the storming of the Redan 18th June 1855. He was invaluable on that date, devoted conduct in rescuing a wounded man from the opened, although he himself had just been wounded by a bullet in the side" When Lieutenant Murray of the engineers, fell mortally wounded, Lieutenant Gerald Graham took his place. He had previously sent Perie out to Murray with a message, and afterwards said how fearlessly the man disappeared into the thick of the fire and returned miraculously unharmed. Wherever Graham exposed himself to danger, Perie was always at his side to help him. When Graham realised the hopelessness of the attempt on the Redan, he ordered the storming party back. Whilst they were sheltering in a trench, an officer in the Naval Brigade heard cries for help from a wounded sailor who was lying out in front. He asked for another volunteer to help bring the man in and Lieut. Graham was the first to cry, "I'm with you !" "And I too," added John PERIE, even though he was suffering from a musket shot wound in his side. Fortune favoured the brave, they rescued the wounded sailor, returning with him without being hit. Both Graham and Perie were awarded the VC for the heroism shown on that day, and Sapper Perie, in addition, was also awarded the French Médaille Militaire.. He received his Victoria Cross from the hands of Queen Victoria, on the now famous Investiture Parade that took place in Hyde Park on 26th June 1857. Sapper Perie died on the 17th September, 1874. His Victoria Cross and French War Medal were sold in London on 26th September 1911.
Additional information
Sapper Perie also held the Médaille Militaire of France. Excerpt from the London Gazette,24th February 1857: "No. 854, John Perie, Sapper, Royal Engineers. Conspicuous Valour in leading assailants with the Ladders to the storming of the Redan 18th June 1855. He was invaluable on that date, devoted conduct in rescuing a wounded man from the opened, although he himself had just been wounded by a bullet in the side" When Lieutenant Murray of the engineers, fell mortally wounded, Lieutenant Gerald Graham took his place. He had previously sent Perie out to Murray with a message, and afterwards said how fearlessly the man disappeared into the thick of the fire and returned miraculously unharmed. Wherever Graham exposed himself to danger, Perie was always at his side to help him. When Graham realised the hopelessness of the attempt on the Redan, he ordered the storming party back. Whilst they were sheltering in a trench, an officer in the Naval Brigade heard cries for help from a wounded sailor who was lying out in front. He asked for another volunteer to help bring the man in and Lieut. Graham was the first to cry, "I'm with you !" "And I too," added John PERIE, even though he was suffering from a musket shot wound in his side. Fortune favoured the brave, they rescued the wounded sailor, returning with him without being hit. Both Graham and Perie were awarded the VC for the heroism shown on that day, and Sapper Perie, in addition, was also awarded the French Médaille Militaire.. He received his Victoria Cross from the hands of Queen Victoria, on the now famous Investiture Parade that took place in Hyde Park on 26th June 1857. Sapper Perie died on the 17th September, 1874. His Victoria Cross and French War Medal were sold in London on 26th September 1911.
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Alf recorded the memorial as: not known
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