Edward Michael Perry

Edward Michael Perry was born on 6 November 1931 in St Georges, a district of East London. His mother was the granddaughter of the Irish Nationalist leader Timothy Healy who was one of a number of related Irish MPs. The family had a long history of Irish Republican resistance to British rule. Shortly after the outbreak of the Second World War he was evacuated to a series of Quaker communities in Devon, Cambridgeshire,where he came into contact with German POW's, and Alfriston in East Sussex. His father who had served in the army in India and Afghanistan was among the last to return from the evacuation of Dunkirk. It would be the last time the father and son would see each other for 5 years, as his father, also Edward, served on the African and Italian campaign. Ending in the liberation of concentration camps in Southern Germany and escorting Cossack soldiers back to Stalin's forces who summarily dealt with them. Edward joined the Coldstream Guards at the age of 16 and saw active service in Egypt,Persia, Libya, other countries in Africa and the Middle East. As he was trained as a sniper and in the intelligence units, he was also assigned to the theatre of the Korean War. Returning to Britain he graduated with an art degree from St Martins School of Art. He studied sculpture and metal bronze casting under a professor who had served as war artist in the Somme of the the First World War, causing him to suffer shell shock. He returned to Africa for a period, and worked in South Africa, where he was a witness to the worsening Apartheid laws. While working as an artist and a commercial artist in advertising agencies, he completed his training as an engineer with additional study in physics and oceanography. In the mid- 1960s his dual skills of engineering and artist were valued in the movie industry where he worked in the relevant departments. High profile assignments including the Dirty Dozen, Where Eagles Dare and The Prisoner. He got on well with some of the stars and described Clint Eastwood as a "gentleman." In addition to working in the technical departments he did a few supporting artist roles including as a German soldier in Where Eagles Dare. In the 1970's, now with two children from 2 marriages, he was offered residency in a few African and Arab countries who wanted British engineers. He was able to teach art to his children Stephen and Bernadette. Stephen Armourae, like his father trained and worked in various professions including acting and behind the camera. Tragedy occurred with the death of his daughter Bernadette. Since then it has been the priority of Stephen and Edward to obtain justice for her.