PERKINS, ROBERT CLARK, Surgeon
Captain, was born on 8 May 1864, son of Thomas Cooper Perkins and Jane
Clark. He was educated at Wesley College, Dublin; is a Member of the Royal
College of Surgeons and a Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians. He
served in the South African War, and became Surgeon Captain in 1899. He was
twice mentioned in Despatches, and was created a Companion of the
Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 19 April 1901]: "Robert Clark
Perkins, Surgeon Captain, Brabant's Horse. For services during the
operations in South Africa". The Insignia were presented to Captain Perkins
in South Africa; a public presentation being impracticable, they were handed
to him at Heidelberg. He was appointed Medical Officer to the Swaziland
Administration. He married Alice Eva Knox, on 22 August 1894, and they had
two children: Norah Kathleen Knox, and Arthur Desmond Knox, born 25 April
1897. Captain Perkins died 7 May 1910, at Bremersdorp, Swaziland, South
Africa. A newspaper cutting says: "We take the following obituary notice of
Captain Perkins, eldest son of Mr T C Perkins, Farra, Killala, whose death
we announced with deep regret some time ago, from the columns of the 'Lake
Chrissie Chronicle' of 12 May: 'We deeply regret to announce the death on
Sunday last of Captain R Clark Perkins, DSO, Resident Justice of the Peace
for Bremersdorp, and formerly Principal Medical Officer for Swaziland. He
was ill for a few days. He leaves a widow, son and daughter to whom we
tender our most sincere sympathies. The funeral took place at Bremersdorp
on Monday. About sixty persons were present to pay the last tribute of
respect, including the acting Resident Commissioner, Major Gibson, DSO, Mr
Marwick, Mr Warner and many other officials. The coffin was covered with
the Union Jack and many wreaths. The Reverend C C Watts read the Burial
Service. Captain Perkins was one of the oldest officials in Swaziland, and
came to the country with the SAC in 1902 immediately after the Boer War, and
has been officially connected with the Administration ever since. About
three years ago his health broke down, and he was ordered to England for
rest. His health became sufficiently restored for him to resume active
work, and Captain Perkins returned to Swaziland, where he relinquished the
post of Principal Medical Officer in Swaziland on his appointment as
Resident Justice of the Peace at Bremersdorp. He gained his DSO during the
Boer War whilst serving with the CMR at Wepener for attending wounded under
fire. He took an energetic part in the organization of the Swaziland
Contingent for service in South-West Africa, and his son, Desmond Perkins,
went through the campaign with the corps, and is now in training at
Sandhurst".
