Private Henry Samuel Purkis
1st/4th Battalion,
Hampshire Regiment
01/09/1916
Son of Harry John & Alice Mary Purkis (nee Medder)
of Liverpool.
Died, aged 25 years, of dysentry following wounds whilst
a Prisoner of War
NEWS ITEM in Jersey
Evening Post of Monday 16 October 1916
The Late Private H S Purkis - In Memoriam
Service. An in memoriam service for the late Private
H S Purkis was held yesterday afternoon at St Helier
Parish Church. A large congregation was present, this
including several members of the bereaved family and
a number of acquaintances and friends of the late soldier
who was held in the highest esteem and regard by all
he had come into contact with. It will be remembered
that Private Purkis was formerly an Assistant Master
at St Helier Don Street School and by his close attention
to his duties and his courteous disposition and high
character he had won the esteem of the Headmaster, Mr
T Addison, and staff whilst the scholars had always
looked upon him as a true friend. When off duty he took
the greatest of interest in the boys welfare and had
been one of the principal promoters of the Schools Football
League, which up to the outbreak of war was such a flourishing
concern. He had also interested himself in many other
societies for the good of the rising generation and
of him it might truthfully be said "he went about
doing good". At the outbreak of hostilities he
gave up a promising career and though at first he met
with little encouragement he eventually was able to
join the Hampshire Regiment. He proceeded to Mesopotamia
and took part in the defence of Kut al Amarah, which
though a defeat for our Army will always remain one
of the most glorious pages in our history. To the great
regret of his friends the news came through that Private
Purkis was missing and after a long period of anxiety
the more favourable information was received that he
was a prisoner in the hands of the Turks, but unfortunately
later news stated that he had died from the disease
which has carried off so many of his countrymen who
took part in that campaign. The congregation present
at the Parish Church yesterday afternoon was representative
of all classes of society and the service, which was
impressive all through, was conducted by the Very Reverend
the Dean and the Reverend L C Burgess. The address given
by the Dean was brief but was a most telling tribute
to the grand example left by the late teacher and soldier.
Having spoken of the splendid work done by the late
Mr Purkis for the Don Street School, St Helier Parish
Church Sunday School and Choir and of his great interest
in football for the lads and in the YMCA, the Dean said
he was about to give them what he believed was the message
their late brother would have wished to be delivered
at that service. "If Purkis could speak to you
at this moment he would tell you that every young man
who is physically fit and who can do so, should follow
his example, that his duty is not here but away where
can perform a much larger service than can possibly
be offered here" said the Dean, and he continued
"Purkis, like so many scores of Jerseymen and so
many thousands of our fellow Britishers has given his
life for his Country, we look to them now and we thank
them for what they have done". In closing the speaker
referred to the value of a well spent life, it being
not so much how long a man lived but what he managed
to get into that life before he left it. Concluding
the Dean said that even in death we were not separated
for we were still members of one great family, hence
the reason that we prayed for our gallant heroes.
Commonwealth
War Graves Commission Record
