Name
Thomas George Parrish
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
26/10/1914
31
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
8355
Border Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star (with Clasp & Roses), British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 35.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hertford Town Memorial, Christchurch Plaque, now in Holy Trinity Church, Bengeo, Not on the Standon memorials
Pre War
Born in 1886 or 7, in Standon, to parents William & Elizabeth and was living in 2 Byde Street, Hertford. He had three brothers and one sister and in 1891 they were living in Paper Mill Lane, Standon.
His father was employed as a baker’s assistant. In 1901 they were living in Standon Road, Standon and Thomas was employed as a clerk for the Great Eastern Railway. By the 1911 census his parents had moved to Hertford and Thomas was shown as living in Martinique, Border Regiment, 2nd Battalion in Bordon, Hampshire having already enlisted in the Army - probably around 1906 (from his service number).
Wartime Service
The battalion was based in Pembroke when war broke out, they were moved to southern England and went to France on the troopships Minneapolis and Turkoman from Southampton on 6th October 1914. Thomas was dead three weeks later.
They saw action at the 1st Battle of Ypres from 15th October. On 23rd the Battalion occupied trenches near Kruiseecke where they came under heavy enemy artillery fire, they estimated 1500 shells landed in 10 hours. At 7.00 am on 26th the enemy attacked, and the Borders were forced to retreat, Thomas may have been killed in this action, however some records state "Died" so he may have died of wounds or disease.
Acknowledgments
Malcolm Lennox, Terry & Glenis Collins, Pat Bird
