Name
Lionel Parsons
23/05/1887
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
12/10/1915
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Driver
57062
Royal Field Artillery
118th Bty.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BETHUNE TOWN CEMETERY
IV. F. 4.
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no family inscription on his Headstone.
UK & Other Memorials
London Colney War Memorial, London Colney Roll of Honour, Not on the St Albans memorials
Pre War
Lionel PARSONS was born on 23rd May 1887, in London Colney, Hertfordshire, son of William Parsons a Master Baker and Adah Parsons (nee Nicholson). One of their eight children although two died in infancy. His parents married on 5th December 1877, in St Albans, Herts.
He was baptised on 4th December 1887, in the Parish of Colney-St Peters, Herts.
1891 Census record Lionel aged 3, living with his parents, three sister and three brothers in London Colney, Herts.
1901 Census, Lionel (13), his parents, three sisters and brother Wilfred (15) are living at 61 Main Road, London Colney, Herts. His mother Adah Persons died on 9th October 1901, in London Colney, Herts.
Lionel enlisted at Kingston, Surrey, in April 1909, in the Royal Field Artillery aged 22, prior to him enlisting Lionel was employed as a Footman at The Manor House, Cheam, Surrey.
1911 Census records Lionel aged 23, single and a Driver in the Royal Field Artillery, Stationed at The Barracks, Barracks Road, Newcastle upon Tyne. His father William (62) is recorded as a Widow, a Baker and boarding at the Green Dragon PH, London Colney, Herts.
Wartime Service
We believe Lionel was still serving with the Royal Field Artillery at the outbreak of war.
Seeing action on the Western Front he was Killed in Action on 12th October 1915, aged 27, while with the 118th Battery, Royal Field Artillery. He is buried in Bethune Town Cemetery, France. Grave Ref: IV. F. 4.
Note. His Medal Index Card (MIC) records he was awarded the British War and Victory Medals. As he died before the 31st December 1915 and had seen active service over seas he would have been entitled to the 1914 Star or 1914/15 Star, but this was not recorded as being issued.
Additional Information
His effects of £33-16s-07d, pay owing and his war gratuity of £6-10s-00d, was split equally between his father William, sisters Rosa, Blanche and Ethal.
1921 Census records his father William (72), as a Widower and Pensioner, boarding at The Swan PH, London Colney, Herts.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Gareth Hughes
