Name
William Henry Parsons
12/03/1876
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
18/08/1915
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
CH/18745
Royal Marine Light Infantry
Deal Bn. R.N. Div.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CAIRO WAR MEMORIAL CEMETERY
D. 43.
Egypt
Headstone Inscription
He has no family inscription on his Headstone
UK & Other Memorials
Wheathampstead Village Memorial, St. Peter's Church Memorial, Gustard Wood
Pre War
William Henry Parsons was born on 12 Mar 1876 in Gustard Wood, Hertfordshire, the son of Henry Parsons, an Agricultural Worker and Mary Ann (nee Picket). He was baptised on 30 Apr 1876, in the Parish Church, Wheathampstead, Herts. He was one of eleven children, one having died in infancy.
The 1881 Census records William aged 5, at school, living with his parents, sisters Annie (born 1873) Mary Ann (born 1878) and brother James (born 1880), in Gustard Wood, Herts.
On the 1891 Census William now 15, has left school and is working as a Plough Boy, living with his parents, brothers James, George (born 1888) and Joseph (born 1890), and sisters Mary, Rosina (born 1886), in Gustard Wood, Herts.
William travelled to London and enlisted in the Royal Marines Light Infantry on 15 Oct 1896 and issued with the service number CH/9351. He gave his occupation as Baker’s Assistant. He was discharged on 6 Aug 1902, before completion of his engagement on payment of £20.
He married Helen Louisa Wright of Bayswater, London, on 1 Nov 1902, at Christ Church, Lancaster Gate, Westminster, London.
The 1911 Census records William, working as a Nursery Labourer, married to Helen, and they have one daughter Helen (born 1904), living in Gustard Wood, Herts, his brother-Law Arthur Wright (aged 20) is also living with the family, and a Nursery Labourer.
Wartime Service
At the outbreak of the Great War, William re-enlisted in the Royal Marines Light Infantry on 24 Aug 1914, with the service number CH/18745, and was posted to Deal Battalion, Royal Marine Division on 12 Sep 1914. This division comprised 4 Battalions: Plymouth, Chatham, Portsmouth, & Deal. Portsmouth and Deal Battalions remained in UK until posted along with all Battalions of Royal Marine Division to Middle East Force on 28 Feb 1915. William had been promoted to Lance Corporal on 1 Jan 1915. Deal Battalion came under orders of the Royal Naval Division and was positioned at Port Said on 26/27 Mar 1915. William landed at Anzac Cove, Gallipoli on 29 Apr 1915 in support of Australian and New Zealand troops in the Front Line.
William was admitted to hospital with neurasthenia (shell Shock) on 28 Jul 1915 and died of Septicaemia on 18 Aug 1915, at the Citadel Military Hospital, Cairo, Egypt.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £5 was paid to his widow. (no record could be found of any arrears.) Helen later moved to Elcombe, Lyndhurst, Hants. The 1921 Census records Helen and her daughter back living in Watford.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne, Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
