Remembering World War II

Lester James Perry

Name: Lester James Perry Rank: Corporal Service Number: F/42630 Service: West Nova Scotia Regiment, RCIC Date of Birth: December 27, 1913 Place of Birth: Amherst, NS Date of Enlistment: September 2, 1939 Age at Enlistment: 25 Place of Enlistment: Middleton, NS Address at Enlistment: Brickton, Annapolis Co., NS Height: 6 feet Complexion: Dark Eyes: Brown Hair: Brown Trade: Farmer/General Labourer Marital Status: Married Religion: Baptist Next of Kin: Mary Grace Perry (Wife) Brickton, NS Date of Death: March 24, 1942 Age: 27 Cemetery: Nictaux (United Baptist) Cemetery, Nictaux Falls, NS Grave: Lot 138 Commemorated on Page 106 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on March 6 Lester James Perry was foster son of William R. Trites (1867-1938) and Clara May (Goucher) Trites (1871- 1958) of Brickton, Nova Scotia. He married Mary Grace Perry on October 6, 1939 in Nictaux Falls, Nova Scotia. He departed Canada via Halifax on December 21, 1939 and arrived in Gourock, Scotland on December 31, 1939. He was promoted to Corporal on September 10, 1940 and completed drill instructor training from May 18 to June 7, 1941 in England. Continuing with additional courses in England, Corporal Perry completed a four week commando training course in the winter and spring months of 1942. Three weeks after he was off course, he was to depart for Canada where he was to serve as an instructor. Corporal Lester James Perry died aboard USS Barnett (AP 11) in the ship’s hospital en route to New York from overseas in England, suffering from diabetes, pellagra and kidney failure. Prior to departure from the UK, he had not been eating well for two weeks and was weak aboard ship. The USS Barnett had sailed February 19, 1942 Barnett from New York City with convoy AT 12 escorted by USS New York (BB-34), USS Quincy (CA-39) and USS Philadelphia (CL-41); and arrived in the British Isles on March2, 1942. On April 9, 1942 Barnett left the British Isles with convoy TA 12 escorted by New York and Philadelphia, and returned to New York City on March 25, 1942. From the USS Barrett that landed at Pier 3 in Brooklyn, NY, his body was transported to the US Naval Hospital in Brooklyn. He was then transferred by train and the Saint John, NB to Digby, NS CP steamship ferry and onward to Lawrencetown, NS via the Atlantic Dominion train. Lieutenant Colonel Milton Fowler Gregg (1892 – 1978), wrote to the wife of Corporal Perry on March 24, 1942: