PARKER, Edward Thomas
| Service Number: | 2396 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 7 August 1915, Enlisted at Goulburn. |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 31st Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Portsmouth, England, September 1880 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Railway Permanent Way (track) Worker |
| Died: | Died of wounds, France, 27 September 1916 |
| Cemetery: |
Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentieres |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 7 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2396, 31st Infantry Battalion, Enlisted at Goulburn. | |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Mar 1916: | Involvement Private, 2396, 31st Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Anchises embarkation_ship_number: A68 public_note: '' | |
| 14 Mar 1916: | Embarked Private, 2396, 31st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Anchises, Melbourne |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by John Oakes
Edward Thomas PARKER, (Service Number 2396) was born about September 1880 at Portsmouth, England. Edward Parker was a labourer with the Permanent Way (track) worker. He worked on the Flemington to Campsie Railway (for Goods Trains). He also worked at Goulburn Quarry.
A statement by P Foley, a stretcher bearer, after Parker’s death gives further details.
‘…went to Australia about 6 years ago, worked somewhere about 3 years in Goulburn Quarry under Mr Seymour.’
He enlisted at Goulburn on 7th August 1915 and being unmarried gave his mother, Isabella, living in Portsmouth, as his next of kin. He was allotted to the 31st Battalion. He embarked HMAT ‘Anchises’ at Melbourne on 14th March 1916 and reached Suez, Egypt, on 15th April. After further training in Egypt he travelled to join the British Expeditionary Force in France in June and joined the Battalion on 22nd July. He died of wounds received in action on 27th September 1916 and was buried at the Cité Bon Jean Military Cemetery, Armentières.
Sergeant G. Bridgeland (359) stated:
‘He had just come off duty at an observation post, and had a look over the parapet. He was sniped through the heart. [I] detailed a party to carry him back. He was unconscious and never spoke again. Died on the way to the Dressing Station.’
A pension of £2 per fortnight was granted to Parker’s mother, from 27th November 1916.
Hee was well regarded by his former employer and friend, Robert Seymour, who made representations through his Member of the House of Representatives to the minister for Defence to ascertain details of his fate.
- based on the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board.