Name
Edwin Parker
16/01/1887
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
20/10/1917
30
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
203269
Bedfordshire Regiment
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
DOZINGHEM MILITARY CEMETERY
XI. G. 16.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
He has no family inscription on his Headstone.
UK & Other Memorials
St Thomas' Mission Hall, Green Tye, St Thomas' Church Memorial, Perry Green, Much Hadham Village Memorial, St Andrew’s Church Memorial, Much Hadham, Stone Bench Plaque, Much Hadham, Congregational Church Memorial, Hadham Cross
Pre War
Edwin Parker was born on 16 January 1887, in Much Hadham, Herts, son of William Parker an Agricultural Labourer, and Maria (nee Deadman/Dedman) Parker. Christened on 13 March 1887, in Much Hadham, Herts.
1891 Census records Edwin aged 4, at school, living with his parents, four brothers and sister Dinah in Green Tye, Herts.
1901 Census records Edwin aged 14, working as an Agricultural Labourer, living with his parents and four siblings in, Green Tye, Herts.
Edwin married Ada Bayford, the daughter of Charles and Ellen Bayford of Much Hadham, Herts, in 1911, in Bishop’s Stortford, Herts. They went on to have two children Edwin George and Gladys Jesse Parker.
1911 Census records Edwin, as married with one stepson, Walter. He was employed as a Farm Labourer, and the family were living in Green Tye, Herts.
His wife Ada died in 1919, aged 28, and his mother also died in 1919, aged 63, in Much Hadham.
Wartime Service
Edwin enlisted at Hertford, posted to the Bedfordshire Regiment with the service number 203269.
According to the Much Hadham War Memorial, Edwin was in the 5th Bedfordshire Regiment, however he was actually with the 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Died of wounds probably in hospital at Westvleteren.
7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment War Diary Extract:
19th October 1917 -Severe shelling by gas. Mud was very bad and duckboards few. The men suffered considerably from cold and wet. The line held consisted of shell holes filled with water.
20th – The line was held by the Battalion until the evening when it was relieved by Queens and moved back to Irish farm.
It seems Edwin was injured before the 20th possibly during the gas attacks on October 19th.
Additional Information
The value of his effects were £3-11s-4, Pay Owing which went to his widow Ada and his War Gratuity of £3, went to his children Edwin and Gladys. Ada received a widow’s pension of 26/6 a week from 29 April 1918.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Malcolm Lennox, “Lest We Forget – Much Hadham 1914-18” by Richard Maddams (Much Hadham Forge Museum), Jonty Wild
