Name
Charles Masters Parker
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Middlesex Regiment
30th Battalion
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Biography
Charles Parker was born in the winter of 1879 at Bloomsbury, London. He was one of four children (two sons and two daughters) born to John and Harriett Parker. Harriett was one of six daughters of John and Jane Dell from Bedmond. John had a series of jobs and worked as an Agricultural Labourer, Gardener and Beer House Keeper near Breakspeare Farm (1891). In the 1881 Census Charles was recorded living with his grandfather, John Dell and his family, which was living at Mansions Farm, near Cecil Lodge in Abbots Langley.
By the time of the 1891 Census he had returned to 9 Bloomsbury Square and was living with his mother, brother and sisters. His father, John Parker had previously worked as a Blacksmith (1871) and Police Constable (1881), and was not listed in the Census Records after 1881. In 1901 Charles remained at 9 Bloomsbury Square, where his mother was employed as a House-keeper. At the time Charles worked as a Plumber.
Charles married Ada Dunn at Emmanuel Church, Maida Vale on 13th January 1909, and the couple had two daughters born in 1910 and 1912. When he attested, at the age of 34 on 12th December 1914 the family lived at 13 Douglas Road, West Kilburn, and Charles gave his occupation as Plumber. He was posted to the 3rd Battalion of the Royal West Kent Regiment on 18th December. It was not until 11th October 1915 that he was sent to France with the British Expeditionary Force, and on the same day was posted to the 8th Battalion of the Royal West Kent’s.
He was recorded in the Abbots Langley Parish Magazine Roll of Honour for the first time in December 1915, serving with the 8th Royal West Kent’s. Charles’ Pension Record noted that he returned to England on 22nd June 1916, and on 21st July was posted to the 9th Royal West Kent’s. On 1st September 1916 the 9th Battalion was absorbed into the Training Reserve Battalions at Shoreham. Charles was posted to the 22nd Training Reserve, and on 22nd September was transferred to the 29th Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment, and five days later to the 30th Middlesex. It is not known why Charles returned from France, but it is presumed that he had been wounded or had become incapacitated in some way through being at the Front. On 15th November 1916 he went before a Medical Board and it was recommended that he be discharged with a weekly pension of six shillings and three pence. On 6th December 1916 Charles was discharged to Bedmond being no longer physically fit for War Service.
The Abbots Langley Parish Magazine recorded that Charles had been Discharged Disabled in its January 1917 edition.
Charles Parker survived the War.
Additional Information
Formerly 3rd, 8th, & 9th Battalions Royal West Kent Regiment; 29th Battalion Middlesex Regiment. Rank unknown. Discharged Disabled.
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
