Name
George William Parker
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
22/10/1914
28
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
7983
Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BEDFORD HOUSE CEMETERY
Enclosure No. 4,Plot XI, Row C, Grave 18.
Belgium
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour,
St Matthew’s Church Memorial, Oxhey
Pre War
Son of Elizabeth Ann HARRISON (formerly PARKER, nee THORNTON) of Bushey, Herts, and the late Henry PARKER.
His parents married 17 April 1881 at St Matthew’s, Oxhey, Herts. Henry died 1893 in Bushey aged 37, and was buried 8 June in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford. Elizabeth remarried 1896 in the Watford district to Richard Henry HARRISON, she died 1920 in Watford aged 62, and was buried 22 March, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
George was born 4 May 1887 in Watford or Bushey, and baptised 3 June 1887 at St Matthew’s, Oxhey. He resided in Wembley, Middx.
On the 1891 Census, aged 3 he lived in Oxhey, with his parents and three siblings. On the 1901 Census, aged 13, he lived in Bushey, with his mother, step-father and two siblings. On the 1911 Census, a Lance-Corporal in the 2nd Battalion O.B.L.I. aged 23, he was stationed at Shorncliffe Camp, Kent.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in London; was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914 Star medals, his qualifying date being 14 August 1914, and was killed in action at Poelcapelle.
Additional Information
There is an article about and a Death announcement for George in the West Herts and Watford Observerdated 9 January 1915; plus an In Memoriam in the issue dated 23 October 1915.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission appear to have got the parents' deaths the wrong way round. Other sources give George's date of death as 22 November 1914
Unfortunately, George’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
