Name
Ernest James Parker
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
26/12/1917
27
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
30721
Bedfordshire Regiment
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
WATFORD CEMETERY
Section D, Row 2, Grave 683.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Christ Church Memorial, Watford, Beechen Grove Baptist Church Memorial, Watford, Not on the Bushey memorials(*1)
Pre War
Son of Jane Elizabeth (nee RALPH) PARKER of Watford, and the late William George PARKER; husband of Charlotte (nee PEARSON) PARKER of Snodland, Kent.
His parents married 1888 in the Watford district. William died 1900 in Watford aged 31, and was buried 7 November in Vicarage Road Cemetery; Jane died 30 January 1932 in Watford aged 64, and was buried 4 February, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
There is an In Memoriam for Jane in the Observer dated 1 February 1936.
Ernest was born 20 October 1890 in Watford or Bushey, Herts(*1), and baptised 14 November 1890 at St Mary’s, Watford. He attended first Beechen Grove Infants’ School, Watford; then Beechen Grove Board School from 10 January 1898 to 4 March 1901, and again from 22 April 1901 to 21 October 1904. He married 1912 in the Strood, Kent, district; they had one child. He resided in Watford, and was buried 2 January. Charlotte never remarried; she died 1949 in Chatham, Kent, aged 59, and was buried 30 June in Snodland Cemetery.
On the 1891 Census, aged 6 months he lived in Watford, with his parents and two siblings. On the 1901 Census, aged 10 he still lived in Watford, with his widowed mother and five siblings. On the 1911 Census, a milk carrier aged 20, he still lived in Watford, with his widowed mother and three siblings.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Watford; was entitled to the Victory and British War medals, and died at Dichmont, Edinburgh.
Additional Information
There is a brief article about and a Death announcement for Ernest in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 5 January 1918; plus an In Memoriam in the issue dated 28 December 1918. Ernest is possibly the E PARKER commemorated at Christ Church. Unfortunately, Ernest’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing. *1 Records found have recorded his birthplace as Bushey. This may be the case, however Bushey was the main postal location given for nearby villages and hamlets, so it may be that this information is misleading. If more accurate information found this will be updated.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
