Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

James Richard PARKER
Born: 10 June 1894, Perth, WA.
Christened: 19 July 1894, Perth, WA
Died: 29 April 1960, Perth, WA
Occupation: Clerk

Richard was the fourth child of four children born to Richard Kerr PARKER and Phoebe Theresa EGAN. He was christened at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Perth (St Mary's Cathedral).

James, or Jim as he was known, grew up in Perth in the suburb of Woodlupine (Queens Park) where his father worked as a carpenter.

It is not certain where Jim started his schooling as the Woodlupine primary school didn't open until 23 February 1905. His later schooling was completed at Christian Brothers College on St Georges Terrace, Perth.

After leaving school Jim worked as a clerk with the Perth Audit Department.
With the outbreak of WW1 on 28 July 1914, Jim enlisted into the AIF, Australian Army on 19 August 1914, regimental number 1865. For some reason, he gave his name as James Anthony Parker.

After completing his basic training at the Blackboy Hill Camp, east of Perth, Jim left on the troopship ‘Rangatira’ from King George Sound harbour at Albany and was part of a fleet of 36 troop ships and 3 Cruisers. The fleet left Albany on 1 November with 21,500 Australian troops, 8,500 New Zealand troops and 12,000 horses (448 soldiers and 450 horses were on the ‘Rangatira’).

Jim arrived in Egypt on 3 December 1914 where he joined the 8th Battery Field Artillery, 3 Army Brigade. Jim was part of the initial landing at Gallipoli Peninsula (Anzac Cove) on 25 April 1915 when some 16,000 troops landed throughout the first day of fighting.

After 4 months of fighting at Anzac Cove, on 13 August 1915, Jim became ill with venereal disease (VD) and spent time on the hospital ship 'HMAS Salta’ before being transported to St. Andrews Hospital in Malta. After 19 days he rejoined his unit at Alexandria and was back at Anzac Cove, Gallipoli on 15 November 1915 on the ship ‘SS Themistocles’.

With the complete withdrawal of troops from Gallipoli, Jim was back at Alexandria, Egypt by 22 December 1915 on the ship ‘SS Ulysses’.

On 29 April 1916, Jim arrived in Marseilles, France. Jim’s service records are missing from May 1916 to December 1916.

According to the unit diary, the 8th Battery Field Artillery was involved with bombing houses and trenches, even churches where the enemy was suspected of being. They moved along the French border with Belgium clearing areas from Fleurbaix, Steenwerck, Petitillon, La boisselle, Godewaersvelde, Flers, Somme and Delville Wood.

On 4 January 1917, Jim was in hospital in France with eczema. On 21 May 1917, he was in hospital again, this time for a circumcision which was a common practice at the time to fight VD.

Jim was on leave in England from 9 June 1917 but ended up back in hospital where he spent the next 59 days battling VD.

On 1 September 1917, Jim finally rejoined his unit in France.

Jim was wounded on 22 October near Westouter, west of Ypres during the battle for Passchendaele, Belgium. He received a gunshot wound to his thigh and left knee. He was transported to a hospital in Estaples, France. On 10 December he was transported to Liverpool, England on the ship ‘HS Ville De Liege’ with a fractured femur.

On 20 June 1918 Jim returned to Australia on the ship ‘HT Matatua’ and was discharged on 19 November 1918.

On 4 March 1919, Jim married Edyth SMITH at the office of the District Registrar in Fremantle, WA. James was 24 and Edyth was 23. Again James’ name was recorded as James Anthony Parker.

Edyth was one of eight children born on 17 February 1895 in Pontypridd, Rhondda, Wales to John David SMITH and Gwendoline HARRIS. John worked as a coal miner.

Edyth was possibly born at home at 25 Lake Street, Ferndale, Pontypridd and after leaving school worked as a servant-nursemaid about 7.5 kilometres away at Trealaw.

Edyth migrated to Australia at the age of 17 on the ship ‘Macedonia’, arriving at Fremantle on 16 January 1912. Being only 17 it is possible that she came out as a servant with one of the other passengers.

Before Edyth was married she worked as a maid at the Karrakatta Club and a barmaid at the Palace Hotel, William St, Perth. She may have resided at the Palace Hotel.

After they were married, Jim and Edyth lived at 36 Paddington Street, Mount Hawthorn, Perth.

On 16 August 1919 their one and only daughter, Nellie Patricia was born in Perth.
Jim worked as an auditor in Perth but it appears that he had part-time employment as a tram conductor with the Western Australian Government Railways and Tramways (WAGR&T). Commencing on 19 November 1919 he was employed as a student conductor but resigned on 17 July 1920 and from 22 February 1928 until 21 June 1929 he was again employed as a student conductor. His employment card states that he was dismissed at the end of his second term of employment.

In August 1923 Jim purchased a 1-acre block of land, being Corrigin Lot 171 in the town of Corrigin, 224 kilometres east of Perth. The land was purchased under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act 1918. There is no indication that he moved to Corrigin however he may have purchased the block for his father. It was transferred into his father’s name in August 1929.

Jim died on 29 April 1960 in Perth and is buried in the Roman Catholic section of the Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth. He was 66 years old.

Edyth had been working on and off as a maid at the Karrakatta Club before she retired.

Edyth died on 13 September 1982 at the age of 88. She is buried with Jim at the Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth.