Name
George William Parker
4/05/1887
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
22/10/1914
28
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
7983
Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star (with Clasp & Roses), British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BEDFORD HOUSE CEMETERY
Enclosure No.4 XI. C. 18.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone Inscription.
UK & Other Memorials
St Matthew’s Church Memorial, Oxhey, Oxhey War Memorial, Watford Borough Roll of Honour. Not on the Bushey memorials(*1)
Pre War
George William Parker was born on 4th May 1887, in Bushey, Herts, son of Henry Parker (B 1856) a Railway Labourer and Elizabeth Ann Parker (B 1858) (nee Thornton), one of seven children, two of whom died in childhood. He was Baptised on 3rd June 1887, at St Matthews Church, Oxhey, Herts.
His parents married 17 April 1881 at St Matthew’s, Oxhey, Herts. Henry died 1893 in Bushey aged 37, and was buried 8 June in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford. Elizabeth remarried 1896 in the Watford district to Richard Henry HARRISON, she died 1920 in Watford aged 62, and was buried 22 March, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
1891 Census records George aged 3, living with his parents, three siblings, Thomas 9, Joseph 7, and Sarah 1, in Pinner Road, Bushey.
His father Henry, died in 1893, in Bushey age of 37. His mother re-married in 1896 to Richard Henry Harrison, a housepainter, who brought up her children at 32 Pinner Road, Bushey.
In 1901, George has just left school and was employed as a milk carrier, living with his mother, stepfather, brother Joseph 16, and sister Sarah 11, at 32 Pinner Road, Bushey.
1911 Census records George now 23, a Lance Corporal in the 2nd Battalion, Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry, stationed at Shorncliffe Camp in Kent.
George was employed at one time by The London and North Western Railway Company.
Wartime Service
When war broke
out, it is assumed George was still in the Army as his service number 7983, was
issued in about 1905, and he held the Rank of Sergeant. His Medal Card states
he landed in France on 14th August 1914. Ten days after the declaration of war.
The Battalion
was stationed at Aldershot in August 1914, as part of the 5th Brigade, 2nd
Division. The Battalion was mobilised for war embarking at Southampton on 13th
August 1914 and landed at Boulogne, France, the next day.
George was
Killed in Action on 22nd October 1914, at Poelcappelle, aged 28. He was
initially buried by the Germans in one of there Cemeteries.
Some documents give the date of death as 22nd November 1914.
He was entitled to the Victory, British War and
1914 Star medals.
Additional Information
The CWGC has his parents death the wrong way round. His father died in 1893 and his mother remarried. The value of his effects were £19-7s-10d. There is an article about and a Death announcement for George in the West Herts and Watford Observerdated 9 January 1915; plus an In Memoriam in the issue dated 23 October 1915. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission appear to have got the parents' deaths the wrong way round. Other sources give George's date of death as 22 November 1914 Unfortunately, George’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
Stuart Osborne
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
