Ancestor Details
Name of ancestor: Robert George Perkins
Ancestor's date of birth: 25/12/1876
Ancestor's date of death: 23/11/1899
Cause of Death: Killed at Battle of Belmont South Africa
Service and Life Before the Boer War: Was an interior decorator and on a visit to England with a friend, they both joined the 1st Scots Guards
Service Number: 2206
Colony or State of enlistment: Not Australia, Place of Enlistment: England
Unit: 1st Scots Guards
Rank attained in Boer War: PTE (Guardsman), Date Effective: 1899
Highest Rank attained (if served after war): Did not survive the Boer War.
Murray Page: Not applicable, did not serve in an Australian unit.
Contingent: Not applicable.
Ship: Nubia, Date of Sailing: 20/10/1899 (from the UK)
Memorial details: Garden of Remembrance, Kimberley, Cape Providence, South Africa - name on the South African War Memorial, City Park, Launceston Tasmania
Awards/Decorations/Commendations: Queen's South Africa Medal with Cape Colony and Belmont clasps
Personal Characteristics: Was also an artist.
Reasons to go and fight: Detail not provided.
Details of service in war: The 1st Battalion Scots Guards sailed from the UK in the Nubia on 20 October 1899, and arrived at the Cape about 13 November. The battalion had very heavy fighting at Belmont on 23 November. Lord Methuen said, "The Scots Guards carried out their instructions to the letter, and gained the heights at the point of the bayonet". Colonel Paget and three other officers were highly praised by Lord Methuen and General Colvile. The battalion's losses were severe, being approximately 10 men including Private Robert Perkins killed, 3 officers and 34 men wounded.(angloboerwar.com).
Service and life after the Boer War: Did not survive the Boer War.
Descendant Details
Name of Descendant: William Henry Perkins, Launceston TAS
Relationship to Ancestor: Great-nephew
