Sergeant William Henry Perkins was born on the 18th March 1857 in Buxton Derbyshire. His trade was an inlayer of marble.  

On the 1st January 1857, he married Laura Blanch Stevenson and together they lived at Dale Terrace, Buxton, Derbyshire. Together they had four children named Robert William, Clifford William, Laura Elizabeth and Sarah Ann. His son Clifford went on to become a member of the 2nd Volunteer Battalion in March 1896 and he served with “K” Company. Clifford served during the Boer War at the same time as his father but was with the Royal Engineers attached to the 24th Middlesex Rifle Volunteers. He later joined the Merchantile Marine as a Marconi Radio operator and died at sea on the 11th October 1918 of Influenza. He was buried at Cape Breton, Nova Scotia 

Sergeant William Henry Perkins enlisted into the 2nd Volunteer Battalion The  Sherwood Foresters on the 17th November 1890. He was a proficient Signalling Sergeant Instructor with the number 3115. He was struck off strength on the 1st November 1895 after previously serving with “D” Company.  

On the 23rd March 1896, he reenlisted as Private and was posted to “D” Company of the Volunteer Battalion and was permitted to assume his former rank of Sergeant for his duty with the Signalling Section. William later transferred to the 4th Battalion and served with them during the Boer War of 1899-1902. In January 1900, he was sent to South Africa sailing in S.S Umbria having been transferred to the 4th Derbyshire Regiment. 

On the 9th June 1900, he was sadly killed in action when defending the lines against the Boer attack at Rhenoster River, Cape Colony, South Africa. He is buried at Rhenoster River Cemetery, Orange River Coloney, South Africa and is commemorated on Memorial at Rhenoster.