By Kevan Pipe

Julius “Jukes” Ford Rumsey Irving Perkins was born July 10, 1898 the only child of Alwynne and Grace Lorrene Perkins, married in Ottawa the year before on September 1.

Likely because his parents were young (20 and 17 years old), the family lived with Alwynne’s parents at 24 The Driveway, facing the Rideau Canal. By 1916, at age 18, Jukes was employed by the Topographic Branch of the Department of the Interior, as a photographer.

On November 9, 1916, having just turned 18 months early, Jukes Perkins enlisted (#507431) for service, and was assigned to the newly formed Royal Flying Corps, 27 Squadron, located at RAF Hounslow. The motto of the Squadron: Quam celerrime ad astra - 'With all speed to the Stars'.

27 Squadron were flying the slow Martinsyde “Elephant” fighter aircraft (a nickname adopted by the Squadron and used even today). It evolved more towards a bomber/reconnaissance role by the time Jukes Perkins began flying in 1917. It was in this aircraft he learned his flying and related technical skills.

Jukes Perkins quickly earned the rank of Second Lieutenant on September 1, 1917, as documented in the London Gazette, the official governmental publication for this purpose. His experience in topography and photography was of immense value to the allied efforts and why he would have been assigned to this bomber/reconnaissance squadron, likely taking valuable air photos of battlefields and enemy placements. This information was vital to the planning of battles with the enemy and the skills of 2nd Lt. Perkins were in short supply.

It was at this time in fall of 1917 when 27 Squadron was re-equipped with the Airco DH.4S, a plane which was able to carry twice the bombload as compared to the ‘Elephant’ at both greater height and speed. It was a plane which was popular with the pilots, despite the fact that the large fuel tank was located between the two man crew. 2nd Lt. Perkins would have assumed the role of both gunner in the second seat while also doing both photographic reconnaissance as well. The squadron was heavily involved in supporting the British and Canadian offensive actions around Cambrai in November/December 1917.

Royal Flying Corps 27 Squadron was assigned to Serny Aerodrome in NW France as of October 12, 1917. 27 Squadrons’ DH.4S was now being used for low level missions against German troops and it was this type of action which was of prominent importance in early 1918. Lt. Perkins was now flying Airco DH. 4B 2094 aircraft in both bombing and reconnaissance missions with his partner, in this two-seater plane being Lt. Ray Foley (fellow Canadian and friend from 61 Rosemont Ave., Ottawa).

On March 8, 1918, RFC 27 Squadron and aircraft DH4 B2094 carrying Lt. Ray Foley and 2nd Lt Jukes Perkins took off on operational duty. It was last seen by the rest of the formation going down between the villages of Walicourt and Busigny during combat with enemy aircraft while engaged in a bombing run. Located about twenty kilometers southeast of Cambrai, they went missing in action. It was later discovered that that they had indeed crashed and were killed on impact.

Grand- Seracourt British Cemetery is located in the Picardie region in northwestern France near to St. Quentin. It contains the graves of more than 2,000 Commonwealth servicemen. 2nd Lt. Julius ‘Jukes’ Perkins, RFC 27 Squadron #507431, is buried at Grand- Seraucourt British Cemetery, where he rests today, beside his flying partner and Ottawa friend, Lt. Raymond George Foley.

Kevan Pipe is a Glebe resident and member of the St Matthew’s Anglican Church Communications Committee. For further information, please visit www.the48ofstmatthews.ca