Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Thomas William Parker born during the 2nd quarter (Apr/May/Jun) 1899 in the district of Stockton, County Durham, one of 7 children all of whom survived, was the eldest of 2 sons and 5 daughters. His father Joseph William Parker of Egglescliffe born 1872 and mother Elizabeth Emma Toase born at Bradbury in 1879, both in County Durham, were married at Stockton in 1898. Joseph Parker at the age of 22 was a farm labourer/domestic in 1901 in the village of Thorpe, near Stockton to support his wife, and 2 children. By 1911 he was employed as a plate layer for the railway, Thomas William (12) and Ada (10) were scholars, Mary Elizabeth (8), John Robert (7), Ida May (3) and Edith Emma (1) were at home with their mother, in December 1911 their youngest sister Edna was born. Joseph William Parker died in 1913 at Stockton aged 41 years, Thomas William was only 14 years old.
On the outbreak of war Thomas William had just turned 16 years of age, too young to enlist and well below the required age of 19 years to serve overseas. There is no doubt that he lied about his age when he enlisted as William Parker at Stockton during 1915. The recruitment officers took the volunteers at their word as regards their age but also turned a blind eye to younger men who tried to enlist as they themselves received a monetary recompense per recruit.
William Parker was assigned as Rifleman R/12936 to the King’s Royal Rifle Corp and transferred to the 7th Battalion, part of Kitchener’s New Army attached to the 41st Brigade, 14th Division. The main body of men landed at Boulogne, May 19th 1915, he did not join them until after January 1916 where they were engaged during the 1st and 2nd Battles of Bellewaarde. He was wounded during day to day trench warfare and evacuated back through the lines by the Field Ambulance to the 45th Casualty Clearing Station in the village of Aubigny-en-Artois, north west of Arras.
Rifleman R/12936 William Parker King’s Royal Rifle Corps succumbed to wounds received on active service, June 25th 1916, and interred at Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension, Pas de Calais, France, grave I. D. 22, used by the 45th C.C.S. He was 18 years old and single.
His widowed mother, nominated by him as his sole beneficiary, received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at 65, Garbutt Street, Stockton, County Durham.
Elizabeth Emma Parker nee Toase died in 1956 aged 78 years registered at Durham S.E.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
William Parker is remembered at Stillington on S137.01 and S137.02
