Name
Ernest James Parker
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
18/09/1918
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
Y/1895
King's Royal Rifle Corps
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BERTHAUCOURT COMMUNAL CEMETERY, PONTRU
Row B, Grave 8.
France
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour,
Christ Church Memorial, Watford,
Audit Office Euston Station Memorial, London
Pre War
Son of Barzillai Timothy and Hannah Lizzie (nee HALL) PARKER of Watford.
His parents married 1 December 1891 in Gibraltar. Barzillai died 3 March 1941 in St Alban’s, Herts, aged 84, and was buried 7 March at St Stephen’s, St Alban’s; Hannah died 18 April 1952 in St Alban’s aged 83, and was buried 23 April, also at St Stephen’s.
Ernest was born 21 October 1895 in Valetta, Malta, and was baptised there 3 November 1895. He resided in Watford, and worked as a clerk for the London and North Western Railway Company.
At the time of the 1901 Census, Ernest and his family were in India. On the 1911 Census, a railway clerk aged 15, he lived in Watford, with his parents and four siblings.
Wartime Service
He attested 21 September 1914 in London for Short Service (3 years with the Colours): a clerk aged 19; he joined the Corps 22 September 1914 in Winchester, Hants.
He suffered a gun shot wound to the head 28 January 1915.
He embarked at Marsailles 18 November 1915 on S.S. Huntsgreen for the Balkan Expeditionary Force, disembarking Salonica 5 December 1915.
He was sent to hospital in Malta on board H.S. Formosa with malaria 25 July 1916, thence to All Saints Camp, Malta, 16 September 1916. He was transferred 28 April 1917 to the 3rd Labour Battalion, Plymouth, Devon, subsequently transferred 15 September 1917 back to the King’s Royal Rifles Corps.
He was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 11 January 1915, and was killed in action.
Additional Information
There is an In Memoriam for Ernest in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 20 September 1919.
Ernest is possibly the E J PARKER commemorated at Christ Church.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
