Rifleman Ben Perkins is a minor character in the Richard Sharpe novels by Bernard Cornwell and a supporting character in the television adaptations.
He was portrayed by Lyndon Davies.
Biography[]
Novels[]
Perkins was one of the group of riflemen cut off from the 95th Rifles during the retreat to Corunna, falling under the command of Lieutenant Richard Sharpe. He was with Sharpe in the action around Oporto in 1809. He later served in the South Essex under now-Captain Sharpe at Busacco. He was one of the small group of riflemen cut off from their regiment along with Sharpe while blowing a bridge at the River Guadiana.
Perkins formed a relationship with Miranda, a Spanish girl that Sharpe and his men rescued from being gang raped by French soldiers. He was disappointed when his rifleman's jacket was stolen by Dona Juanita, to mark her managing to seduce Sharpe. He later fought with Sharpe during the operation at Almaraz.
Television[]
Perkins was a young rifleman in the 95th Rifles. He was the only member of the main party of the battalion to survive uninjured during an ambush by Colonel de L'Eclin, joining up with Lieutenant Sharpe and his section. He joined them in capturing the city of Santiago de Compostela, and saved Sharpe's life by killing De L'Eclin when he tried to shoot him on losing a duel, being given a Chosen Man's stripe.
Perkins remained with Sharpe when he was promoted to a captain in charge of the South Essex light company, fighting with him at Talavera and Badajoz and briefly being a target of Sergeant Obadiah Hakeswill's bullying. He played a key role in the capture of the deserter's fortress at Adradas, being disguised as a woman that had supposedly been captured by a scouting party in order to surprise the guards. He later went with Sergeant Patrick Harper to rescue now-Major Sharpe from Burgos.
Near the end of his time with Sharpe, Perkins began a relationship with Miranda but failed to find her when she was murdered by collaborator Dona Juanita. After becoming trapped inside the fort of Sharpe's latest enemy Brigadier-General Guy Loup, Perkins saw a group of soldiers from the Real Irlandesa Compania and, thinking they were similarly trapped, attempted to help them out. In fact, the four soldiers had deserted to Loup and their leader, Guardsman O'Rourke, stabbed Perkins with his bayonet, fatally wounding him. He died surrounded by long-serving comrades Harper, Hagman and Harris. After the battle, Sharpe and the others buried him alongside Miranda.
Trivia[]
- Perkins was created for the television series and later included in the novels. In writing order, he made his first literary appearance in Sharpe's Battle, the first novel written after the series began.