Trafford

Born at Walworth, Surrey on the 7th May 1865.

1871 Census - No Trace.
1881 Census - No Trace.
1891 Census - No Trace - Singapore.
1901 Census - No Trace - Madras, India.

1911 Census - Fern Bank, Mersey Road, Ashton upon Mersey.   Head of
household - Married - aged: 46 - occ: Army Pensioner & Warehouseman - born:
Walworth, Surrey.  Also - Catherine Owen Parker - Wife - aged: 36 - born:
Dublin, Ireland.   Plus 7 children aged from 17 down to 3.   Those born
between 1899 and 1904 were born at Madras, India.  Their eldest daughter
was born in Singapore in 1894.   He must have returned from Singapore c
1896, as his eldest son was born at Woolwich, Kent.   He must have returned
to England from Madras c1906 as his youngest son was born in Middlesex.  
Their last child was born at Sale in 1908.

WO363 - Enlisted at St. George's Barracks, Orange Street, London on the 1st
June 1883 into the 1st Bn Lincolnshire Rgt at the age of 18 years 4 months.
 He had dark brown hair, was 5 feet 3 1/4 inches in height, weighed 119 lb,
his chest measurement was 33 inches and was employed as a Milkman.  His
mother was recorded as residing at 21 Goldsmith Road, Peckham, London.  

Travelled with the Rgt to India, Egypt & China.   Served with Kitchener in
the Battles of the Soudan & Khartoum.   Appointed to the rank of Lance
Sergeant on the 22nd October 1889 and to Sergeant on the 21st January 1890
and again to Colour Sergeant on the 21st July 1891.   On the 26th August
1890, the C.O at Cawnpore permitted him to extend his Army service to
complete 12 years.   On the 4th July 1892, whilst serving at Chaubuttia,
India, he re-engaged so as to complete 22 years service.  He was tried for
stiking a soldier and reduced to the rank of Sergeant on the 14th January
1893 and forfeited 1d Good Conduct pay.   On the 28th December 1897 he was
transferred into the 1st Battalion, Lincolnshire Rgt.   He took part in the
Nile Expedition of 1898 and was involved in the Battle of Khartoun 2nd
September 1898.   Promoted back up to the rank of Colour Sergeant on the
25th October 1898.  By the 1st June 1901, he was entitled to receive 4d
Good Conduct pay, which rose to 7d on the 1st April 1904.                  
  Left the Army with the rank of Colour Sergeant No. 8433, after 22 years
of service.   He returned to the UK and came to live at Sale, later Ashton
on Mersey - a resident there for 10 years.   Employed for a considerable
period by Messrs. Henry Bannerman & Sons Ltd, Manchester.

Whilst at India, he was initiated into the Lodge of Fidelity No.2061,
almost exclusively a military lodge.  he married Catherine Owen Meadows at
Chaubuttia, Bengal on the 25th July 1892.  Catherine born c1876 was
originally from Dublin.  Their eldest child - Norah Agnes Parker was born
at Singapore on the 11th September 1893.  Charles Frederick - 27th July
1896 at Woolwich - Arthur Lewis - 2nd march 1899 at Madras - Christopher
Thomas - 14th September 1903 at Madras.

His overall service record was:-

Home - 1st June 1883 - 15th December 1884
East Indies - 16th December 1884 - 30th October 1892
Straits Settlements - 31st October 1892 - 23rd March 1895
Home - 24th March 1895 - 27th December 1897
Egypt - 28th December 1897 - 17th October 1898
India - 18th October 1898 - 24th March 1905
Home 25th March - 22nd April 1905

After his discharge, he obtained employment as a Warehouseman at Messrs.
Henry Bannerman & Sons Ltd, York Street, Manchester.

WO 374 states:- He originally enlisted in the Lincolnshire Regiment on the
1st June 1883.   He went to Egypt in 1897 and served in the Soudan -
involved at the Battle of Khartoum - he was particularly good at accounts
and assisted in the Regiment's Pay office - he was discharged to pension on
the 22nd April 1905, after serving with the 3rd Bn. - 4th Lincolnshire Rgt
- a Sergeant Major at their Depot.    On the 30th September 1915, he
applied for a commission - his address was then - "Fern Bank", Mersey Road,
Ashton on Mersey.   Part of the process was to supply a birth certificate -
he was unable to do so and his Colonel vouched for him stating that he
believed that he had been born in Burma and has tried several places,
including Somerset House, London, but they have no record of his birth. 
His commission to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) was agreed
from the 3rd November 1915.  He commanded a 3/th Bn Lincolnshire Rgt
Company until the 31st August 1916, when the 3/4th and 3/5th Battalions
amalgamated.   On the 3rd October 1916, he was attached to the 2/4th Bn
Northumberland Fusiliers and on the 29th March 1917 he was transferred to
them.     However, by June 1917 he is still trying to have his Captaincy
confirmed from the original date of 3rd November 1915.    It was agreed
that his Captaincy would be made permanent with effect from the 1st June
1916.

Re-joined the Lincolnshire Rgt on the 5th September 1914, serving as a
Sergeant Major.   A note on his enlistment application states that he is to
be employed on Home service only.   Commissioned in November 1915 and
transferred to the Northumberland Fusiliers in August 1916, with whom he
served until the 11th May 1918 when he was placed on the Territorial
Reserve.    Died suddenly after only a few days illness.

By the time of his death he was residing at "The Poplars", Mersey Road,
Ashton on Mersey.    He died from Influenza and Double Pneumonia - and left
a widow and seven children.    Two of his eldest sons were serving in
France.    His widow applied to the Army for a pension, but as he died of
natural causes not attributable to the Army, this was refused.    However,
the letter to her from the War Office, dated the 20th June 1919  did state
that "in view of your necessitous circumstances" you have been awarded a
gratuity of £30. 0. 0d from the Relief Fund.   She completed form 66E -
Application for assistance from the Relief Fund - stating that she was
aged: 43 years and needed assistance in the home as she is in delicate
health.    The earnings of her two sons was £5 per week.   Her dependent
children were:- George Parker, aged: 13 and attending the local secondary
school;  Dorothy Parker, aged: 11 who was attending a private school and
Violet Parker, aged: 17 who helped at home.   Her bread winning sons were:-
Christopher Parker, aged: 15, who was earning £1. 10.  0d per week and
Arthur Parker, aged: 20, earning £3. 10.  0d per week.    Her other two
sons were in the Army.

Death Reported in the 19/07/1918 edition of the Altrincham Guardian.

St. Martin's Ref: 1.146.     M.I. - "Duty nobly done".

CWGC - Husband of Catherine Owen Parker of "The Poplars", Mersey Road,
Ashton upon Mersey.   Catherine died at Southport in 1961, aged: 85.