Lieutenant Bernard Lionel DE LA PERRELLE (256544)
B Company, 9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry

Date of birth: 22nd June 1922
Date of death: 10th September 1944

Killed in action aged 22
Buried at Geel War Cemetery Plot III Row A Grave 22
He was born at Southsea on the 22nd of June 1922 the son of Arthur Lucien De La Perrelle, manager of a life assurance office, and Grace Dorethea (nee Clinton) of Liverpool.

He was educated at the Junior King’s School from September 1931 and at the King’s School Canterbury from September 1936 to July 1940 where he was in School House. He played hockey for the 2nd XI in 1939/40 and was appointed as a House Prefect in January 1940.

On leaving school he went on to the Royal Military College at Sandhurst from where he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Armoured Corps on the 19th of December 1942.

He was married in Warwickshire in late 1942 to Elise L.L. (nee Wills).

He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 19th of June 1943 and transferred to the infantry. He saw action in North Africa and in Italy and, after further training in the UK, he landed in Normandy in June 1944.

On evening of the 8th of September 1944 the 8th Battalion Durham Light Infantry crossed the Albert Canal and established a bridgehead on the far side. The 6th Battalion was to cross on the morning of the 9th of September and, if opposition was found to be light they were to be followed by the 9th Battalion and push on cross the Escaut Canal. In the event enemy resistance proved to be strong and a new plan was devised which called for the 6th Battalion to push forward on the left of the Brigade towards Doornboom and Stokt and then to the centre of Gheel. On the right of the Brigade's attack was the 9th Battalion who were led by B Company in an advance through Willaars and Winkelom then to Laar-Ste. Dymphe.

On the morning of Sunday the 10th of September 1944 intelligence was received that the enemy were holding the village of Winkelom in some strength so a new plan was drawn up for B Company to capture the village where they were to establish a firm base for the other companies to join them there. B Company and the battalion tactical headquarters crossed the canal and established the tactical headquarters at Willars before B Company continued their push forward along a track towards Winkelom against strong opposition. At 4pm a platoon under Bernard De La Perrelle was held up some 400 yards from the village in a fierce fire fight during which he was killed and several of the platoon were wounded. Another platoon was also held up 200 yards to the south of the track, also under heavy machine gun fire. Lieutenant Colonel Mogg, the Battalion commanding officer, arranged for two tanks to push up the track to assist the two platoons, which enabled B Company to successfully capture the village shortly afterwards.

School House

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