Name
Joseph Clement Parker
13th February 1881
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
26/11/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
4/7360
Bedfordshire Regiment
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARTILLERY WOOD CEMETERY
X. E. 8.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Aspenden Village Memorial,
Buntingford War Memorial, Buntingford,
St John the Baptist Church Memorial, Cottered
Pre War
Joseph Clement Parker was born in Cottered, Herts, on the 13 February 1881 the son of Frederick Parker (born in 1829 in Cottered, Herts) and Adelaide Ann Ashwood (nee Walker, born in 1840 in Cottered, Herts). Joseph was baptised on the 10 April 1881, at the Church of St. John The Baptist, Cottered, Herts.
The 1881 Census records Joseph aged one month, living with his parents, brothers Henry aged 19, Frederick aged 17, Walter aged 2 and sisters Eliza aged 13 and Hester aged 5 at 3 Scaulsgrave, Cottered, Herts. The 1891 Census records Joseph aged 11, at school, living with his parents, brother Walter aged 13, and additions to the family sisters Florence M. aged 8 and Hannah aged 6, at Cripplegate, Cottered, Herts.
On 12 Sep 1899, aged 18, Joseph attested for 6 years’ service in the 4th (Militia) Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment as Private 4055. The 4th (Militia) Battalion was embodied (taken into the Regular Army) in January 1900, and a contingent of 500 officers and men embarked the SS Goorkha the following month (29 Feb 1900) for service in South Africa, taking part in the Second Boer War. Most of the battalion returned home on the SS Guelph in June 1902. Joseph received the Queen’s South Africa Medal with Clasps Cape Colony, Transvaal and King’s South Africa Medal with Clasps 1901 & 1902 together with a War Gratuity of £6 5s. Joseph was discharged on 11 Sep 1905 on completion of his six years’ service.
Joseph married Rose Florence Hills, the daughter of William Henry Hills and Emily Hills, in the Parish Church, Aspenden, Herts, on the 4 February 1905. The 1911 Census records Joseph now married to Rose with two children, Jonah William and Grace Violet and living in Baldock Lane, Buntingford, Aspenden, Herts. He was working as a farm labourer.
Wartime Service
Following the outbreak of war Joseph enlisted in Oct 1914, re-joining his old Regiment the Bedfordshire Regiment with the service no 4/7360 (indicative of 4th (Reserve) Battalion).
He was posted to 7th Battalion landing in France on 17 Aug 1915; the Battalion were engaged in the Battles of the Somme 1916, Arras 1917 and Passchendaele 1917.
Joseph was wounded three times. While helping carry a wounded soldier back to the dressing station Joseph received a wound to his right thigh and died from loss of blood, aged 36 and his death from his wounds was reported on 26 Nov 1917.
Additional Information
Joseph is recorded as Clement Parker on the St John the Baptist Church Memorial, Cottered, Herts. War Gratuity of £13 10s and arrears of £11 12s 10d paid to his widow, Rose.
Brother Walter served with 1st Cambs Regt in France from Oct 1916, receiving Gun Shot Wound to his head on 31 Jul 1917 and posted to Labour Corps. Survived the Great War.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne, Kate Thompson, Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, Carol Emery
