Page:Dictionary of National Biography, Second Supplement, volume 3.djvu/117

 few days later near the walls of Delhi, he was sent to Ambala. Although he soon recovered from the actual wound, he was forced by broken health to remain there until March 1858, when he was invalided home. For his services in the Mutiny campaign he received the medal and clasp.

On returning to India in 1859, Perkins held various offices in Bengal, including those of assistant principal of the Civil Engineering College at Calcutta, assistant consulting engineer for the railways, and executive engineer of the Berhampur Division. On 12 March 1862 he was promoted second captain and in the autumn of 1864 took part as field engineer in the Bhutan Expedition, during which he was three times mentioned in despatches for gallant conduct, and was recommended for a brevet majority. Towards the end of the expedition he was appointed chief engineer of the force. A strong recommendation for the Victoria Cross for conspicuous gallantry in storming a stockade at the summit of the Baru Pass was rejected on account of the delay in sending it in. For his services in Bhutan, Perkins received the medal and a brevet majority on 30 June 1865.

Perkins was next stationed at Morshedabad as executive engineer, and in 1866 was transferred to the Darjeeling division in the same grade. Promoted first captain in his corps on 31 Oct. 1868, two years later he was sent to the North West provinces his superintending engineer, and in April 1872 he was transferred in the same grade to the military works branch. He became regimental major on 5 July 1872, brevet lieut.-colonel 29 Dec. 1874, and regimental lieut.-colonel on 1 Oct. 1877.

A year later Perkins was selected for active service in Afghanistan at the request of Major-general (afterwards Field-marshal Earl) Roberts, commanding the Kuram field force. He was appointed commanding royal engineer of that force. During the operations in front of the Peiwar Kotal he skilfully reconnoitred the enemy's position, and selected a site from which the mountain battery could shell the Afghan camp.

The works carried on under his control in the Kuram Valley greatly facilitated the subsequent sidvance on Kabvd. He was mentioned in despatches, and was created a C.B. in 1879. On the conclusion of peace with Sirdar Yakub Khan, Perkins remained in the Kuram Valley, laying out a cantonment proposed to be formed at Shalofzan, but on the news of the massacre of Sir Louis Cavagnari [q. v.] and his escort at Kabul an immediate advance was made by the Kuram column, and Perkins was present at the victory of Charasiab and the entry into Kabul on 8 Oct. 1879. He was again mentioned in despatches.

The work which then devolved upon the engineers was extremely heavy. The Sherpur cantonment and Bala Hissar had to be repaired, and a new Une of communication with India via Jalalabad had to be opened out. The Sherpur cantonment was rendered defensible by the beginning of December and none too soon. A few days later the Afghans assembled in such overwhelming numbers that Sir Frederick Roberts had to assemble the whole of his force within the walls of Sherpur. Under Perkins's direction emplacements and abattis were rapidly constructed, block-houses were built on the Bimaru heights, walls and villages dangerously near the cantonment were blown down and levelled, and a second line of defence within the enclosure was improvised. On 23 Dec. the enemy delivered their assault in great numbers. It was repulsed, and a counter attack dispersed the Afghans to their homes. Perkins was mentioned in despatches and promoted brevet colonel on 29 Dec. 1879.

Steps were now taken by Perkins to render the position at Kabul absolutely secure. A fort and blockhouse were erected on Siah Sang, the Bala Hissar and the Asmai Heights were fortified, Sherpur was converted into a strongly entrenched camp, bridges were thrown across the Kabul river, the main roads were made passable for artillery, and many new roads were laid out. The works completed during the next seven months, chiefly by means of unskilled Afghan labour, comprised ten forts, fifteen detached posts, three large and several small bridges, 4000 yards of loopholed parapet, 45 miles of road, and quarters for 8000 men. At the end of July 1880 the news of the Maiwand disaster reached Kabul, and Perkins accompanied Sir Frederick Roberts as commanding royal engineer with the picked force of 10,000 men in the famous march to Kandahar. He was present at the battle of Kandahar on 1 Sept. 1880 and soon afterwards returned to India. He received the medal with four clasps and bronze decoration, and was made an aide-de-camp to the Queen.

Rejoining the military works department, Perkins was appointed superintending engineer at Rawal Pindi, and from April to July 1881 he officiated as inspector-general of military works. After a furlough