Whitley Seaside Chronicle & Visitors' Gazette
Photo : NEWMP
© Copyright HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC Archives)
© Copyright HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC Archives)
Newcastle Evening Chronicle 04/04/1945
At Whitley Bay Cemetery is a family headstone which reads :
'In Loving Memory of
Frederick Parrack, R.N.
who died 24th February 1919
aged 77 years
Also his beloved wife
Catherine
who died 1932
'Peace Perfect Peace'
Edwin Parrack 1874 - 1944
Dear husband of Jane Massey
Lieut. John Frederick 1917 - 1945
Their beloved eldest son
darling husband of Dorothy
Killed at Millengen, Germany
Kathleen their daughter 1912 - 1967
The above Jane Massey Parrack 1886 - 1976'
(Inscription on ground stone):
'also
their daughter Patricia
1918 - 1994'
John Frederick Parrack was born on the 21st May 1916, to a Edwin Parrack, [born 14th February 1874, at Donegal, Ireland, died 16th April 1944, a Cereal Commercial Traveller, and his wife Jane Massey Parrack, born 9th April 1886 at North Shields, they were married in 1910].
In 1911 they had just moved into 10 Holly Avenue, Whitley Bay, Northumberland.
John was possibly one of six children? Kathleen, born 22nd August 1912, Patricia, born 24th April 1918, Mary, 'Mollie' born 13th October 1919, married a David Miller, only son of a Mr and Mrs James Dennis, [she was also a qualified masseur achieving 1st class at the Royal Victoria Infirmary school of Massage], Edwin, and a Richard M. born 6th October 1927. They were residing at 7 Hawthorn Gardens, Whitley Bay, Northumberland, in September 1939.
Edwin married a Miss Jean Gair, daughter of Mr J. Gair of 63 Hartley Avenue, Whitley Bay and the late Mrs Gair, on the 9th April 1949 at St John's Methodist Church, Monkseaton. The bride is a teacher at the Queen Victoria School at North Shields. After the reception at Berkley, Whitley Bay, the couple left for the Trossachs.
Source : Shields Daily News 09/04/1949.
John was educated at the Tynemouth School and the Newcastle Grammar School.
John started work at the Midland Bank Wakefield Branch on the 1st November 1933 at the age of 17. His starting salary was £60 per annum. John, as common with employees of the bank moved from branch to branch. Darlington branch from the 7th May 1934, then on the Quayside branch in Newcastle-upon-Tyne from the 1st July 1935, Grainger Street from the 16th November 1936 finally ending up at Gateshead, West End Branch on the 14th April 1939. His salary by this time was £155 per annum.
John also played football for the Bank.
Midland Bank did have a football club, although the sports ground was based in London, regional district teams also existed.
'Midland Venture', Staff Magazine from February 1938 : which celebrates the success of the Newcastle and District team that had only been established two years previously. The attached photo appears to have been taken when the team was founded in 1936 and John can be seen on the front row, first on the left.
The Midland Bank (Newcastle and District) A.F.C.
'This Club was formed at the beginning of the 1936-7 season, during which the team met a fair measure of success which prompted us to join the Second Division of the North Eastern Amateur League at the commencement of the present season. Owing to the shortage of playing fields and the high rents charged for those available, the Club was faced with a big financial problem, which was solved by the generosity of the Directors of the Bank and the local Managers and Staff who contributed very handsomely to the funds which enabled the Club to obtain a first-class playing pitch.
Mr C.F. Brown (Sunderland) kindly consented to act as President and his enthusiasm shown in many and varied directions, has proved a great asset. Mr W.L. Gibson, Jun. (Dean Street) has worked unceasingly in his position of Secretary, and Mr T. Hudson (Grey Street) has devoted much time in training members of the team. Efforts are being made to arrange games with other Provincial teams and it is the hope of the Club ton play a London Team at Beckenham.
Since 13th November last, the Club has been undefeated, and our record to date is as follows : Played 12 Won 6 Lost 4 Drawn 2, Goals. For 44 Against 33, Points 14.
Source : The Midland Venture February 1936.
John was called up on the 25th August 1939. He married on the 14th August 1940 at St John's Mehodist Church to a Miss Dorothy Viner [nee Adamson], born 30th April 1918, who was an Estate Agents clerk in 1939, she was the daughter of Stanley R. Adamson, [born 1st June 1884. a Civil Engineer], and his wife Alice E. F. Adamson, [born 17th December 1886], residing with her brother, [Frank R. Adamson, born 3rd November 1913], at 50 Holly Avenue, Whitley Bay, Northumberland, in September 1939. When John and Dorothy got married they resided at 2 Studley Gardens, Whitley Bay. Northumberland. They had one child called David. Dorothy remarried a Brown after the death of John. And moved to Wallasey, Cheshire.
Whitley Seaside Chronicle & Visitors' Gazette Friday, 13/05/1945.
LIEUT. PARRACK KILLED
News has been received by Mrs. J. F. Parrack, 2 Studley Gardens, Whitley Bay, of the death of her husband, Lt. Jack Parrack, D.L.I. (28) from wounds sustained in action in North West Germany.
Son of Mrs J.M. Parrack, of Hawthorn Gardens, Monkseaton, and of the late Mr. Edwin Parrack, he was a well-known figure at the coast - a keen sportsman, a leading member of the Beachcombers Cricket Club, and member of the football teams for the Midland bank and the 8th Whitley Bay Scouts (St John's Church) at which he was scout master.
He joined the staff of the Midland Bank after completing his education at Tynemouth School and the Newcastle Grammar School. In 1940 he married Miss Dorothy Viner Adamson of Studley Gardens. His son David was born last October, three days before his embarkation leave ended.
In tribute to him a fellow Territorial who lives at Whitley Bay writes:-
His loss is not only a personal one - it is also a national one, for he represented only too well that type of manhood who founded both Britain and the Empire, who are fighting and winning this was for us, and in whose hands out future security lies.
Too many like 'Jack' Parrack are not returning: this time we must never, never, as we did after the last war, forget their sacrifice.
Research : Angela Conroy/James Pasby
Thanks to the Midland Bank Archives
John Frederick Parrack is remembered at Jesmond on J1.04, J1.18, at Monkseaton on M15.05, also at Whitley Bay on W84.01 and at Durham in D47.014a page 16.
