Page 68 - Sylvia Malt - Side by Side

Pte. Hugh PERRIMAN, 8th Battalion, East Kent Regiment
1892 - 5th July 1916

Hugh Perriman, born in 1892 in Loose, a small village just two miles outside Kent’s
principal town of Maidstone, was the eldest son of Albert and his wife, Mary Susana. Like
thousands of other young men of his generation, Hugh felt it his duty to fight for the
Empire and enlisted in Ashford, Kent, joining the 8th Battalion, East Kent Regiment.

Before joining the Army, Hugh had worked in partnership with his wife, at Ryecroft Laundry
in Suffolk Road, Foots Cray and had intended to take-over the business from his wife.

The notorious Battle of the Somme began on 1st July 1916 when up to 60,000 men were
either killed or injured in just a few tragic hours. The conflict resolved nothing but brutal
slaughter, on both the German and the Allied sides.

Hugh Perriman took part in an episode when three officers and 100 men went over the top
to carry out a raid on the enemy. Four men were killed and 20 wounded. Hugh was one of
the wounded and was taken to the nearest Casualty Station. With the casualty list so high,
it is unlikely that he was given very much medical assistance, other than something to help
with the pain. The small number of doctors and nurses working at the casualty clearing
station were stretched to the limit and had to be ruthless in their approach to medical
help. The fact that he lived for five days may have been down to his determination to
survive, but on 5th July he lost his fight to live.

In Memoriam - Hugh Perriman was buried in Pond Farm Cemetery. He is also
remembered on the magnificent Memorial situated in the centre of Kent’s capital town of
Maidstone.

Stoker 1st Class William RUTLAND, served on HMS Queen Mary
1894 - 31st May 1916

Born in 1894 in the neighbouring parish of St. Mary Cray, William Rutland was the son of
Charles and Mary Ann Rutland. The family home was at Cray Place in Foots Cray. William
joined the Navy and was on board HMS Queen Mary as a stoker, 1st class when it was
engaged in the Battle of Jutland. HMS Queen Mary was the last battle cruiser built by the
Royal Navy before World War I. She was completed in 1913 and participated in the Battle of
Heligoland Bight as part of the Grand Fleet in 1914. Like most of the modern British battle
cruisers, she never left the North Sea during the war. As part of the 1st Battle Cruiser
Squadron, she attempted to intercept a German force that bombarded the North Sea coast
of England in December 1914, but was unsuccessful.

The ship was re-fitted early in 1915 and missed the Battle of Dogger Bank which took place
in January, but participated in the largest fleet action of the war - the Battle of Jutland, in
May 1916. HMS Queen Mary was hit twice by the German battle cruiser “Derfflinger” during
the early part of the battle and her magazines exploded shortly afterwards, sinking the
ship. There were no survivors.

In Memoriam The wreck of HMS Queen Mary was discovered in 1991 and rests in pieces,
some of which are upside down, on the floor of the North Sea. It is designated as a
protected place under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986, as it is the grave of
1,266 officers and men, one of which was Stoker 1st Class William Rutland.

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