Willington Cemetery

Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-

John Parker was born at Willington and on the outbreak of war enlisted at Bishop Auckland where he was assigned to the 6th Battalion Durham Light Infantry as Private 2335.

The 6th Battalion was a Territorial force based at Bishop Auckland and once mobilised August 5th 1914 they were moved to the Tyne Defences and transferred their base firstly to Boldon Colliery, August 9th 1914 then went on to Ravensworth Park by the October.

Training completed they departed from Newcastle railway station bound for France attached to the 50th Northumbrian Division, April 7th 1915, landing at Boulogne before marching across France to concentrate near Steenvoorde in Belgium. They arrived just as the Germans attached Ypres for the first time using poison gas and were rushed into battle without any nursery training to the front line trenches of the Ypres salient. They suffered heavy casualties from shelling and gas attacks at Frezenberg and in the GHQ line, the last defence before Ypres itself.

May 14th 1915 they joined the 151st Brigade, 50th Northumbrian Division and saw action in the Battle of St. Julien, Frezenberg Ridge and the Battle of Bellewaarde Ridge. June 3rd casualties were so severe that the 6th and 8th Battalion Durham Light Infantry were reduced to cadre strength and amalgamated to form the 6/8th Battalion and were transferred to the Lines of Communication.

Either wounded, suffering from illness, disease or the effects of gas Private Parker had been repatriated and was receiving care either at Borough Hall Morpeth or Moor House, Whalton near Morpeth, auxiliary hospitals under the administration of the Red Cross. It was at Morpeth, Northumberland, that Private 2335 John Parker died, October 30th 1915. His body was transported for burial with military honours to Willington Cemetery, County Durham.

John left a widow by the name of Elizabeth who would have paid the expense of his burial. She received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.

John Parker is remembered at Willington on W120.02, W120.03 and mentioned to be added on W120.05

He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance

The CWGC entry for Private Parker