John Perie
John Perie VC (1831 – 17 September 1874) was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
John Perie | |
|---|---|
 John Perie VC | |
| Born | 1831 Huntly, Aberdeenshire |
| Died | 17 September 1874 (aged 42-43) Aberdeen |
| Buried | St Peter's Cemetery, Aberdeen |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |  British Army |
| Years of service | 1848-1860 |
| Rank | Sapper |
| Unit | Corps of Royal Sappers and Miners |
| Battles/wars | Crimean War Second Anglo-Chinese War |
| Awards | Victoria Cross Médaille Militaire (France) |
Details
Perie was born in Gartly, north-west of Aberdeen on 7 April 1821.[1]
Perie was approximately 25 years old, and a sapper in the Royal Sappers and Miners, British Army during the Crimean War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 18 June 1855 during the Siege of Sevastopol, Sapper Perie showed conspicuous gallantry, with a lieutenant (Gerald Graham) in leading a ladder party at the assault on the Redan. He also volunteered to go with the lieutenant to help bring in a wounded sailor lying in the open, even though he was himself suffering from a musket wound in the side.[2]
He died at 69 East North Street[3] in Aberdeen on 17 September 1874 and was buried in the "Strangers Land" (communal paupers grave) of St Peter's Cemetery in north Aberdeen.[4]
The medal
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Engineers Museum in Chatham, Kent.
Family
He was married to Isabella Howie (1834-1901) and had four children, most of whom began spelling their name as "Pirie".[5]
References
- Grave of John Perie, north Aberdeen
- "No. 21971". The London Gazette. 24 February 1857. p. 656.
- "John Perie 1829-1874 - Ancestry®".
- Grave of John Perie, north Aberdeen
- "John Perie 1829-1874 - Ancestry®".
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- The Sapper VCs (Gerald Napier, 1998)
- Scotland's Forgotten Valour (Graham Ross, 1995)
External links
- Royal Engineers Museum Sappers VCs
- Location of grave and VC medal (Grampian)