Medal Index Card for Private Albert James Parker
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Alfred James Parker was born on August 3rd 1899 at Newbiggin by the Sea, baptised October 15th at Southwick, County Durham, one of 11 children, 4 boys, 4 girls and 3 deceased born to shoemaker. James Alfred Parker 1870 of Fovant, Wiltshire and his wife Jane (Jennie) Burdon 1870 native of Southwick, County Durham, married in 1890 in the district of Sunderland. Henry Goodfellow Parker, born 1891, [in Clarendon Street], a rope Haulier, Olive Christina Parker, born 1895, [Hawthorn Street], Jemima Burdon Parker, born 1897, Norman Parker, born 1902, [Collingwood Terrace], Edith May, born 1907, Edward Harold born 1910, [45 Pine Street, Grange Villa], and a Ruth Parker, born 1893.
Alfred James enlisted at Chester-Le-Street when he was under age, young men had to be 18 to enlist and 19 to fight overseas, easily done as there was no such thing as a birth certificate. Recruitment officers were paid 2 shillings and 6 pence (about £6.00 in today’s money), for each new recruit and closed a blind eye as did their family at times. He was first assigned to the Durham Light Infantry as Private 40363, 1/8th Battalion, later transferred to the Labour Corp as Private 117668. The Labour Corp was not formed until January 1917, manned by officers and men who had been rated below “A 1” condition needed for front line service or returned wounded. As his full military record no longer exists, destroyed during the blitz of WW2, it is impossible to know the exact circumstances. For the same reason it is not possible to give an exact date when he was sent to France only that he was assigned as Private 039227 to the Army Ordnance Corps, 12th Ordnance Depot. The A.O.C both supplied and repaired weapons, vehicles and other military equipment, ammunition and clothing and also minor functions such as laundry, mobile baths and photography.
Private Parker was wounded, date and location unknown, taken by Field Ambulance to Rouen, a large hospital centre, he died of his wounds May 25th 1918. He was only 18 years old and single.
Private 039227 Alfred James Parker Army Ordnance Corps is interred at St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Seine Maritime, France, grave Q. IV. B. 3.
His mother paid the sum of 13 shillings and 1 pence for an additional inscription to be added to his military headstone which reads, “Peace Perfect Peace In Jesu’s Keeping He Is Safe At Rest”.
As his sole beneficiary his mother Jennie received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the British War Medal, Victory Medal and possibly the 1914-15 Star, sent to 42, Pine Street, Grange Villa, County Durham.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Alfred James Parker is remembered at Craghead on C120.01 and C120.04 and at West Pelton on W112.01