Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of David Willis (Wilkie) Peregrine, a Church of England clergyman, born 1859 in St. George’s, Hanover Square, Middlesex and his wife Constance Mary Peregrine (nee Puxon, married in the 4th quarter of 1889 in the Croydon, Surrey district), born 1862 in Croydon, Surrey. John Pryor Puxon was born in 1895 in Kelvedon Hatch, Essex, his siblings were, Monica Ford Puxon, born 1896, Constance Mary Puxon, born 1898 and Robert Lisle Puxon, born 1900, all his siblings were born in Kelvedon Hatch, also residing in the family home was John’s widowed maternal Grandmother, Francis Amelia Puxon, living on her own means, born 1837 in Holloway, Middlesex, in March 1901 the family home was at The Rectory, Kelvedon Hatch. In April 1911 John was absent from the family home at The Rectory, Branston by Belvoir, Leicestershire, residing there was his father, a Church of England clergyman, his mother and siblings, Hugh Ley, a medical student, born 1890, Ermyntrude Marjory, born 1892, the latter two siblings were both born in Kelvedon Hatch, Monica, a student, Mary, a student and Edward Francis, born 1902 in Kelvedon Hatch, John was a student and was residing as a boarder at Haileybury College, Great Amwell, Hertfordshire. John attended Sandhurst Military Academy.
The War Diary records: 1-4 July-16 – FRICOURT & VICINITY. The Battalion moved up to the assembly trenches on the night of 30/1(sic). The following officers moving up with the Battalion:- Headquarters, Lieutenant Colonel M. B. STOW, Adjutant, G. WILLIS. Bombing officer, 2nd Lieutenant J. B. BAILEY. Signalling officer, 2nd Lieutenant H. RIEDER. Lewis gun officer Lieutenant T. F. SMITH. Medical Officer Captain Winfield R.A.M.C. “A” Company. Captain J. L. J. HAWKESWORTH. 2nd Lieutenant D. V. BLACK. 2nd Lieutenant BONCHER. “B” Company. Captain C. J. HUNTRISS. 2nd Lieutenant J. S. CRACKNELL. Lieutenant’s MOORE, SAWYER ENGLISH. “C” Company. Captain D. F. CUNDISON. 2nd Lieutenant F. S. BULTITUDE, PEREGINE, SMITH and GATRELL. “D” Company. Captain T. L. BESANT. 2nd Lieutenant TROUNCE, COOPER, LAWSON. The following were left behind as first replacements:- Lewis Machine Gun:- Major H. E. R. SAUNDERS, Lieutenant’s RHODES, MARSHALL, 2nd Lieutenant JAMES, DENNIS, BENSON, STOPHAM, COLLIER, WILLIAMS, SHEFFIELD and BOX. Captain E. F. PIPE who had been appointed acting Brigade Transport Officer remained with the 1st Line Transport. On the way up 2nd Lieutenant GATRELL was killed and 3 other ranks wounded while in the communication trenches, the Battalion getting into place at 3.30am in its position of assembly. A heavy and continuous shelling was maintained throughout the night, which at 6.30am became intense and continued until 7.30am when the artillery barrage lifted off the German front line and the infantry moved forward to the assault. The 64th Infantry Brigade attacked in the following order 9th KING’S OWN YORKSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY on the right, 10th KING’S OWN YORKSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY on the left, supported by the 15th DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY right and the EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT on the left, the 64th Brigade MACHINE GUN COMPANY advanced as follows, half the Company behind the 9th and 10th KING’S OWN YORKSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY and half behind the supporting Battalions. The Battalion attacked in the following formation “B” and “D” Companies in column of platoons at 100x distance, then Battalion Headquarters, then “A” and “C” Companies in a similar formation to the two leading Companies. Although our bombardment had been very severe and the German trenches were badly damaged, there were still a few machine guns untouched and these took a heavy toll of the Battalion. In spite of heavy losses the Brigade pushed on and seized the first objective i.e. the CRUCIFIX TRENCH and the SUNKEN ROAD, though the SHELTER WOOD and BIRCH TREE WOOD on the North flank still remained in German hands. This line was reached about 8.05am. All the units of the Brigade had become individually intermingled, on our left the line continued North by the 34th Division, 15th and 16th ROYAL SCOTS and 27th NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS being the Regiments in our immediate vicinity while the 63rd Brigade was on our right. At about 2.00pm the Germans counter attacked in a half hearted manner from the direction of SHELTER WOOD, but were repulsed. It was impossible to advance further owing to the heavy casualties the Brigade had incurred and all efforts were directed towards consolidating the position and holding the ground already won. Our artillery vigorously bombarded SHELTER WOOD and its vicinity to which the enemy replied on the SUNKEN ROAD, but his range was not good and although the fire was at times hot, few casualties resulted. At about 7.30pm Major SAUNDERS together with Lieutenant MARSHALL, 2nd Lieutenant BARNES, BENSON and STOCKHAM arrived and took over command from Captain Willis who had been in charge of operations since the early morning when Colonel STOW had been wounded. Orders were now received that the 62nd Brigade would relieve the 64th and the 1st LINCOLNSHIRE REGIMENT and 10th YORKSHIRE REGIMENT arrived, owing however to delay on the part of the 12th NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS the relief was not completed until about 6.38am on the 2nd. The 64th Infantry Brigade then took up a position in the rear, the 9th and 10th KING’S OWN YORKSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY in a portion of the German network known as SAUSAGE SUPPORT trench, the 15th DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY and EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT behind them in our original assembly trenches. At about mid day, 2nd information having been received by the Brigade, that parties of Germans still remained in the trench network on our immediate left, which were endangering our communications, the EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT were detailed to despatch a bombing party to reconnoitre the ground and clear up the situation. This party was despatched under 2nd Lieutenant A. H. EAMES. A superior number of Germans was encountered and it was while dealing with this situation that Lieutenant EAMES was killed. In consequence however of his reconnaissance, a strong party of the EAST LANCASHIRE REGIMENT were sent up to clear out the enemy and fighting took place in the network which lasted throughout the day and resulted in the killing and capturing of all the enemy who had occupied it. On the following morning, the 3rd in order to clear up any doubts as to the state of things on our left, a further reconnoitring party under Lieutenant MARSHALL was despatched. He executed a useful reconnaissance, which attracted the favourable notice of the Brigadier and reported all clear. On this “C” and “D” Companies under Captain HAWKSWORTH were despatched to construct a defensive flank in the German network facing North East, “A” and “B” Companies remaining in their original positions. At 4.30pm Lieutenant RHODES accompanied by 2nd Lieutenants DENNIS, COLLEN, WILLIAMS, SHEFFIELD and BOX arrived and at 5.00pm “A” and “B” Companies under Lieutenant RHODES relieved “C” and “D” Companies, the former returning to their original positions. At 8.00pm the Brigade received orders that they were to be withdrawn from the battle and proceeded to the railway siding near the village of DERNACOURT where they bivouacked for the night. At 9.00am on the 4th the Brigade entrained at DERNACOURT and proceeded by rail to AILLY SUR SOMME where they detrained and proceeded by road to YZEUX, where they went into billets, arriving about 4.00pm.
The following is the list of casualties amongst the officers.
Killed Captain C. J. HUNTRISS, 2nd Lieutenants R.F.H. GATRELL, J. P. PEREGINE, B. R. BONCHER, R. C. J. SMITH. 1/7/16. Died of wounds at Casualty Clearing Station HEILLY. Lieutenant Colonel M. B. STOW. 1/7/16. 2nd Lieutenant C. S. E. ENGLISH wounded and missing, believed killed. 1/7/16. 2nd Lieutenant A. H. EAMES. killed 2/7/16. Total Officers killed 8.
Officers wounded Captain D. D. ANDERSON, Captain T. L. BESANT, 2nd Lieutenants E. P. COOPER, BULTITUDE, W. R. MOORE, J. S. CRACKNELL, J. W. SAWYER, D. V. BLACK, R. TROUNCE, J. B. BAILEY, Lieutenant T. F. SMITH. Total 11.
Slightly wounded returned to duty Captain’s G. WILLIS, T. L. I. STOCKHAM, 2nd Lieutenant A. S. STOCKHAM.
Other Ranks killed 35. Wounded 239. Wounded and missing 9. Missing 158.
Total casualties Officers killed and wounded 19. Other Ranks 441.
The following trophies were captured by the Battalion. One light gun. One machine gun.
On Friday July 14th 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL OFFICER KILLED. – Much sympathy will be felt for the Rev. D. W. Peregrine, Rector of Braunstone and Rural Dean, in the loss he has sustained by the death of his son, Lieut. Peregrine, of the Yorkshire Regt. During the great British advance, both Lieut. Peregrine and his friend were killed by the same shell. He was only 21 years of age.
On Friday July 21st 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “LOCAL AND DISTRICT NEWS.” – BRANSTON. – MEMORIAL SERVICE. – In connection with the death of 2nd Lieut. J. P. Peregrine, of the East Yorks. Regiment, second son of the Rector, a numerously attended memorial service was held in the Parish Church on Saturday afternoon.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Lieutentant John Pryor Puxon Peregrine is remembered by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, and a copy of his commemorative certificate can be downloaded by copying and pasting the link below into your browser:

https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1547769/peregrine,-john-pryor-puxon/

Submitted by T. Peregrine, 2019