Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Early Life

Kingsley Bernard Parham was born on the 24th of May 1893 at Brompton Park, SA the son of Samuel James Parham and Mary Elizabeth “Bessie” Riggs (SA Birth Registration 522/390). He was the second son in a family of seven children.

Education

Gawler Public Primary & High School

Kingsley attended Gawler public School where he passed his Primary Examinations in 1908. He then attended Gawler High School from 1909. He played cricket for Gawler High School in 1909 taking 3 for 9 (hat trick) in one game. In December 1909, Kingsley passed his Junior Examinations and in January 1910, he passed the Pupil Teacher Entrance Examination to Adelaide High School and was appointed a Senior Monitor at Gawler.

Adelaide High School

As a Pupil Teacher, he attended Adelaide High School (AHS) from 1911. While at AHS, Kingsley passed the Senior Public Examination subjects in 1912 and 1913. Kingsley also passed subjects at the School of Arts during the period 1911 to 1913. In March 1913, Kingsley was promoted from Junior Teacher (3rd Grade) to Junior Teacher (4th Grade) at Gawler.

He played in the AHS First Eighteen football team in 1911 and 1912. Kingsley played against the Ballarat High School (1911), Melbourne Continuation School (1911) and against the Past AHS students (1911 & 1912).

Adelaide University

After spending a year teaching at Gawler, Kingsley gained entry to the Teachers’ Training College in 1914. Kingsley was able to commence studies part-time towards a Bachelor of Arts degree at Adelaide University. He passed one subject (Education) that year.

University Sport

Kingsley played A Grade football for the Adelaide University Football Club in 1914.

Early Career

In December 1914, Kingsley received an Education Department appointment to Port Pirie and was there for the 1915 school year. In January 1916 he was appointed to the Parkside School in Adelaide.

World War I

On the 27th of September 1916 Kingsley enlisted (SN 34301). He was 23 years and 7 months old, 5’6”, 152 lbs, with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and dark brown hair. His father Samuel James Parham of Willaston was listed as his next of kin. He enlisted as a Private but then attended N.C.O. School at the Mitcham Camp. On the 13th of March 1917 he was appointed a Gunner in the 15th reinforcement of the 6th Field Artillery Brigade.

On the 11th of May 1917 he left Australia, departing from Melbourne onboard the HMAT A11 Ascanius and disembarked at Devonport, England on the 20th of July 1917. On the 10th of October 1917 he proceeded overseas to France. His time at the front-line with the 17th Battery Field Artillery was interrupted with admissions to hospital with furunculosis (boils) and influenza. On the 7th of July 1918, Kingsley was invalided to the UK having suffered from appendicitis and reported to be dangerously ill.

In October 1918, after recovering, he was sent to the School of Instruction at Tidsworth, UK. In February 1919 he was appointed to the AIF Depot in the UK where he was a promoted to Temporary Corporal and then to Temporary Sergeant. Kingsley was promoted to ER-Sergeant on the 5th of May 1919. He returned to Australia on the Ulysses, departing from England on 22nd of July 1919 and arriving on 30th of August 1919.

Post-War

Kingsley does not appear to have returned to teaching after the war. Shortly after he returned to Australia, he moved to Melbourne and was briefly in partnership with Gerald Grant Francis and John William Dockett, as real estate agents, at 450 Chapel St, South Yarra, trading as G.G. Francis and Co. The partnership was dissolved on the 31st of December 1920.

By 1922, Kingsley was living at Whitehorse Road, Tunstall, Vic and his occupation was listed as grocer in the census of that time.

Sadly, on the 30th of March 1923, Kingsley’s mother passed away aged 57 years.

On the 5th of July 1923 Kingsley married Jessie Beaton the third daughter of Mrs. and the late Mr. D. Beaton of Glasgow, Scotland. The wedding was held back in South Australia at the Gawler River Methodist Church.

By 1924 Kingsley was a grocer at Mitcham, Victoria and had been joined by his brother Oswald Noel (Noel). They were operating a business known as “Parham Bros”, Grocers and produce Merchants.

Kingsley and Jessie had one child, a son, Jack born on the 25th of June 1925.
At some stage between 1925 and 1928 the brothers moved to Altona and by September 1928, Kingsley was a Vice-President of the Altona Trader’s Association. From 1928 to 1936 there are references in the newspapers to Parham’s Hall and Parham’s A.B.C. Cafe. Various activities including Methodist Church services and social dances were held at Parham’s Hall. In 1930 Kingsley’s business was advertised as the Esplanade Emporium, Altona.

In May 1928 Kingsley competed in a billiards tournament.

In February 1931 Kingsley’s store was visited by a 3-foot-long tiger snake.

As a prominent local businessman, Kingsley donated a set of silver spoons in a case as a trophy to the Altona Amateur Cycling Club in 1931 and gave a trophy to the Western Golf Club in 1934. In 1936, Kingsley’s brother, Noel, had moved to Footscray and his occupation was “Traveller” (Company Sales Representative).

Sadly, on the 20th of May 1945, Kingsley’s father, Samuel James Parham of Allenby Gardens passed away aged 83. He was buried at the Stonehill Methodist Cemetery, Gawler River.

Kingsley was by 1945, a Justice of the Peace and heard local cases in the 1945-47. From 1946 to 1951 the local papers for the Altona area frequently contained advertisements for K.B. Parham Grocery & General Store Pier Street, Altona (216 Pier St).

By 1949, Kingsley and Jessie’s son Jack was a qualified mechanic.

Kingsley and Jessie attended the Victory ball at Altona in August 1949. In September 1950 Kingsley was among the Altona residents deputised to oppose the transfer of some land to the Williamstown Council and in November 1951 he supported the Independent candidate, EW “Bill” Ward for the Altona Riding elections. In the 1954 Electoral Rolls Kingsley (aged 61) was described as a storekeeper.

Death

On the 1st of March 1956, Kingsley passed away aged 63. Jessie passed away on the 11th of February 1977 and is buried at the Altona Memorial Park.