Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

"...Lieutenant Colonel Edward Joseph Parks, DSO MC, 16th Battalion, of Adelaide, SA. He enlisted on 20 May 1915 and embarked from Adelaide, SA, aboard HMAT Kanowna on 24 June 1915. He was Mentioned in Despatches three times and was awarded the Military Cross on 24 August 1917, and the Distinguished Service Order on 3 June 1919. He returned to Australian aboard HAMT Port Denison on 23 November 1919." - SOURCE (www.awm.gov.au)

Edward Joseph Parks, was born in Adelaide, South Australia on the 18th of June, 1894. He lived on Harold Street in Largs Bay, South Australia and worked as an accountant. His next of kin was his father, Joseph Parks. Park’s religion was the Church Of England

Edward enlisted on the 20th of May, 1915 in Adelaide, South Australia at the age of 22.

Edward's unit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia on board the HMAT A61 Kanowna 24th June 1915. He served in the Middle East and on the Western Front. During his service he rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

EJ Parks was mentioned in the despatches ( report of which describes you as a worthy member of the armed force) 3 times and promulgated repeatedly in the ‘London Gazette’ (the second supplement, No. 29890 on the 2nd of January, 1917) and ‘Commonwealth Gazette’ (No 103 on the 29th of June, 1917). In both he was mentioned for his renowned work as Temporary Lieutenant Colonel in the 16th Australian Infantry Battalion in the AIF (London Gazette : No. 31448, July 11th, 1919, Commonwealth Gazette: No. 124, October 30th, 1919). Some of his most important achievements because of his work in the war also include; 

◦ On December 20, 1917, he was mentioned  in the ‘Commonwealth Gazette’, No. 219, from when he was awarded on the 24th of August, 1917, the ‘Military Cross’ for his role in the 16th Australian Infantry Battalion as Captain, quoted from their;

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. As Adjutant to his battalion he showed the greatest forethought in arranging reliefs, and particularly in the matter of making personal reconnaissances both before and after reliefs. No risk was too great for him to undertake, and on several occasions he went through enemy barrage whilst reconnoitring the front line.'

◦ His recommendation for the ‘Military Cross’ at the beginning of 1917 in both these gazettes was for his work as captain in the 16th Australian Infantry Battalion . ( Primary Source Document Accessible at: https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/awm-media/collection/RCDIG1068343/document/5499684.PDF )

◦ His recommendation for the ‘Honorary Captain Award’,  on October 9, 1918 for his work as Lieutenant in WWI in the 76th Infantry ( Primary Source Document Accessible at: https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/awm-media/collection/RCDIG1068671/document/5512486.PDF )

◦ His recommendation for the ‘Distinguished Service Medal’  at the beginning of 1919 for his work as Major in the 16th Australian Infantry Battalion in WWI ( Primary Source Document Accessible at: https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/awm-media/collection/RCDIG1068006/document/5488547.PDF )

Edward safely returned to Australia in September 1919 and was discharged 7th February 1920. Later on in his life, Edward also enlisted for WWII on January 16th, 1940, in South Melbourne, Victoria. 

Edward Joseph Parks sadly passed away due to natural causes on June 28th, 1958 in Adelaide, South Australia, at the age of 64. Today, he is honored in the Largs Bay St Alban’s Church Roll and the Rosewater Marist Brothers Port Adelaide Roll of Honour.

‌EJ Parks was buried at the Centennial Park Cemetery, Pasadena, Mitcham, Adelaide South Australia.

Bibliography

Adfa.edu.au. (2024). Details. [online] Available at: https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=234031  [Accessed 6 Dec. 2024].

vwma.org.au. (n.d.). 16th Infantry Battalion. [online] Available at: https://vwma.org.au/explore/units/40. 

Vwma.org.au. (2014). Virtual War Memorial. [online] Available at: https://vwma.org.au/explore/campaigns/30. 

Terrace, V. (2024). View digital copy. [online] Naa.gov.au. Available at: https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8008385. 

Sa.gov.au. (2021). Edward Joseph Parks | South Australian Red Cross Information Bureau. [online] Available at: https://sarcib.ww1.collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/eyewitness/edward-joseph-parks-1  [Accessed 6 Dec. 2024].

History.com Editors (2018). Church of England - Anglican Church. [online] History.com. Available at: https://www.history.com/topics/european-history/church-of-england. 

History.com Editors (2009). Battle of the Somme. [online] history.com. Available at: https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/battle-of-the-somme. 

Vwma.org.au. (2024). Edward Joseph PARKS DSO, MC, MiD. [online] Available at: https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/289780 [Accessed 6 Dec. 2024].