Parker, (James) William

Hull Pals Memorial Post. PRIVATE JAMES WILLIAM PARKER 27346. Born in 1890, James was the sixth of nine children to Harry and Kate Parker. He appears to have dropped his Christian name in favour of using William, and it is as William he is listed on Census records. He married Beatrice Wilson at St. Mary’s, Hull on 28th December 1912 and the couple lived at 25 Warwick Street in the city with their two children Mary and William. A Horse Driver by trade, it appears William spent some time in the 3rd Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment in the ASC and was discharged on 8th September 1915. He rejoined the army in August 1916 becoming part of the 11th Battalion training in Britain until he shipped for France on 28th July 1917. He was hospitalised with Pulmonary Catarrh in January 1918 and didn’t rejoin the Pals until late March when they were involved in the desperate rearguard action which so importantly held up the German Spring Offensive. William was killed in action on 30th June 1918 at La Becque and is buried in Aval Wood Military Cemetery; he was 27 years old, a husband and father of two.