Name
Ernest George Parrish
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
04/09/1916
29
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
8167
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 2 C.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Sawbridgeworth memorials
Pre War
Ernest was the son of George and Alice Parrish, of Bennington's Cottages, Taverners Green, Hatfield Broad Oak, Harlow, Essex and born in 1886 and he lived there with his family until he enlisted. In the 1901 census, he was recorded as an ‘Agricultural Labourer’.
In 1910, Ernest enlisted at Bishop’s Stortford into the Army and served with the 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment. He was thus a professional soldier.
Pre-war, Ernest served in Ireland, being based at Mullingar. However, in 1912, he married Rosamond Marjorie Seddon who lived at 45 Priory View, Everton, Lancashire.
He was recorded was being born in Sawbridgeworth and was living in Everton, Lancs. when he enlisted in Bishops Stortford.
Wartime Service
At the outbreak of war, Ernest’s Battalion was mobilised and one of the first into action. They arrived in France 16 August 1914 and fought at Mons and First Ypres.
In 1916, the Battalion was part of the Somme offensive. From 3-6 September 1916 they were occupying ‘Silesia’ trenches at Billon Farm as part of the Divisional Reserve. Although not on the front line, the Battalion still took 89 fatal casualties here from shellfire, one of whom was Ernest Parrish. He died 4 September 1916 and has no known grave.
Ernest Parrish is named on the Thiepval Memorial. He was aged 29.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, Douglas Coe
