Name
Francis John Parkins
1897
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
10/10/1918
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
325078
Royal Warwickshire Regiment
1st/3rd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
MAUROIS COMMUNAL CEMETERY
36
France
Headstone Inscription
GOD TOOK HIM HOME IT WAS HIS WILL FORGET HIM NO, WE NEVER WILL
UK & Other Memorials
St Katherine’s Church Memorial, Ickleford
Pre War
Francis John Parkins was born in 1897 in Ickleford, Herts, the son of John and Thirza Parkins (nee Crawley). He was one of seven children.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at Upper Green, Ickleford, where his father was working as a Journeyman Banker. They remained there in 1911 at which time 13 year old Francis was still at school.
Wartime Service
Francis enlisted in Hitchin in 1915 and was sent to France the following year. He previously served with the Suffolk Regiment, (reg. no. 290772).
An article in the Hertfordshire Express dated 26th of October 1918 reports:
"Mr. and Mrs. Parkins, the Green, Ickleford, have heard of the death in action of their son, Private Francis John Parkins. Private Parkins was aged 21, and joined up with the Suffolks two years ago, being later transferred to the Royal Warwicks. He had served in Italy nine months, and was drafted to France on September 13. As a lad he worked with Messrs. Paternoster & Hales, Hitchin, being later in the employment of the late Mr. David Simson, of the Manor, Ickleford. Official intimation has not yet been received by the bereaved parents, but a letter from his chum, Private W. Stanbridge, was received on Friday week, announcing his death from a bursting shell on Thursday, October 10.
He was a very popular lad, and the writer of the letter states: "I can assure you he will be missed very much, as he was very much liked by the officers when in the mess, and also by all the boys in the platoon." Private Parkins was last home on leave a year last Easter. One brother is a prisoner in Germany, and one is in training at Tunbridge Wells. Deep sympathy has been expressed with the family by the many friends and acquaintances of Private Parkins."
Francis was killed in action on 10 October 1918 in the Amiens sector and is buried in Maurois Communal Cemetery, France. He was 21.
Additional Information
His father, Mr F J Parkins, Ickleford, Hitchin, Herts., ordered his headstone inscription: "GOD TOOK HIM HOME IT WAS HIS WILL FORGET HIM NO, WE NEVER WILL".
His mother received a war gratuity of £9 and 6s 8d of the pay owing, whilst his father received £13 12s 1d being the balance of the pay owing.
Acknowledgments
Derry Warners, Brenda Palmer
Brenda Palmer
