Biography of Private Richard Parker (267478)
1st/5th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales’s Own)
Formerly 267478 2nd/8th West Yorkshire Regiment
and 149701, R.F.A
Died 7th August 1918
Soldier
- Name: Richard Parker
Date of birth: 1890
Place of Birth: Bourne, Lincolnshire, England
Date of Birth Registration: April – June 190
Place of Birth Registration: Bourne, Lincolnshire, England
Father
- Name: George Ellis Parker
- DOB: 1863
- Place of Birth: Thurlby, Lincolnshire, England
- Occupation: Coal Merchant
Mother
- Name: Caroline Falkner
- DOB: 1870
- Place Of Birth: Bourne, Lincolnshire, England
- Marriage: 1889 Peterborough District
Siblings: (Name), (DOB), (POB)
- Mary Elizabeth Parker, 1887, Bourne (Half Sister)
- Richard Parker, 1890, Bourne
- Zilpha Susan Parker, 1892, Bourne
- George Edward Parker, 1903, Bourne
Census
- 1891: Richard is living with his parents in New Street, Bourne, Lincolnshire.
- 1901: Richard is living with his parents in Victoria Place, Bourne, Lincolnshire.
- 1911: Richard is living with his parents in Abbey Road, Bourne, Lincolnshire. The census gives him an age of 21 and he is listed as assisting in business.
Relatives in services
- Richard’s distant cousin Ellis Parker also fought and was killed in WW1. Ellis can be found on our page dedicated to the Bourne War Memorial
Marriage
- No marriage for Richard has been found and because of his age we can assume that he never had the opportunity to marry.
Newspaper Mentions
- Grantham Journal Saturday 17th August 1918
- BOURNE
- KILLED IN ACTION, – Mr and Mrs G E Parker have received a letter from an officer in the regiment to which their son, Richard Parker was attached, stating that a shell dropped amongst a number of the men, and that their son was instantly killed. Deceased, who was 28 years of age, was engaged in the coal business with his father up to the time of his joining the Army, and was of a most genial disposition. He was one of the first affected by the Conscription Act, his appeal being unsuccessful, both at the Local and Appeal Tribunals.
- Grantham Journal Saturday 5th October 1918
- BOURNE
- MEMORIAL SERVICE.- On Sunday evening last, a memorial service was held at the Congregational Church for Signaller Richard Parker, son of Mr. and Mrs. G.E. Parker, of Abbey Road, Bourne. The service was conducted by Rev. J. Comyn Jones, who, in the course of his sermon, referred to the lifelong connection of deceased with the School and Church, and of his sterling character. The service was of a most impressive character. The choir sang, “When the Roll is Called up Yonder,” that being a favourite hymn of deceased.
Military Records
Attestation Papers
- None found
Soldier’s Died In The Great War
- These records show that Private Richard Parker, 267478, 1st/5th Bn, Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire) Regiment was killed in action on 7th August 1918 in the Western European Theatre in France and Flanders.
Pension Records
- None found
Effects Left To
- Father George E
Medals
- The British Medal
The Victory Medal
Memorials
- UK:
- Bourne, Roll of Honour in Bourne Abbey Church
- Bourne War Memorial in the Memorial Gardens
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission:
- In memory of Private Richard Parker, 267478, 1st/5th Bn., West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales’s Own) who died on 7 August 1918 Age 28
- Son of Mr. and Mrs. G. E. Parker, of 16, Abbey Rd., Bourne, Lincs.
- Remembered with honour, Hagle Dump Cemetery
© Picture taken by South Lincolnshire War Memorials
© Picture taken by South Lincolnshire War Memorials
Military Service Timeline
- Enlisted in Bourne
- This is ongoing research and will be posted when completed
Sources
- WW1 Soldier’s Records (www.ancestry.co.uk)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission - British Newspaper Archive.