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Born in Butler in SA, on the 1st July 1909, Harold was one of sixteen children of George James and Mary Melanie Parker. Harold had eight brothers, Les, Ernest Harold, Herbert, Victor, Allan, Clem, Sidney Frederick, Harold and Perce and seven sisters. His early days were spent in the township of Butler, a strong farming district near Tumby Bay on the Eyre Peninsula, an area named after Richard Butler (later Sir) and for its water storage tanks.
There was always strong community support for any local events that were held, including in ’22 when Harold was a 13-year-old participating in the annual Band of Hope Sports held in very windy September conditions. The evening’s entertainment was quite varied with the Parker children, including Harold, and his sister Elsie doing a recitation (E Butler) of ‘When Mother Was Away’. In later years when a huge celebration was held for the Centenary of Butler in October ’36, a gathering of old scholars re-enacted ‘old’ education practices of exercises, marching and ‘old school’ lessons in the 80-year-old school building. Many of the Parker family were represented, including Florence, Hilda, Leslie, Vera, Jack, Herb, Ern, Elsie, Clem, Anne, Ivy, Sydney, Doreen and Harold. A series of floats were also judged before the various Queens were announced with Doreen Parker being name as Queen of Flowers.
Originally Harold with the militia. When WWII broke out there were many depots set up targeting the fit, active young men in country towns, encouraging them to enlist. These depots included Cowell, Minnipa, Wudinna, Port Lincoln and Streaky Bay. By June ’40 Harold had registered at Port Lincoln and was part of a large contingent from Lincoln, Coulta, Mount Hope, Cummins, Elliston, Tumby Bay, Wildeloo, Mount Hope, Port Kenny and Murdinga who departed for Adelaide where his papers indicate he was officially enlisted on July 2nd. This time coincided with Teddy Boxer, who had also enlisted at Streaky Bay. Their lives and fortunes were to cross, fortuitously, in the Middle East. Harold was allocated the number SX7572 in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. Harold’s early days were spent training at Wayville in what is now the Adelaide Showgrounds. From there, the new enlistees moved to Woodside in the Adelaide Hills to continue their training.
Harold returned home on pre-embarkation leave in October where he was giving a huge farewell social. The Port Lincoln Times reported that ‘There were visitors from Port Lincoln, Tumby Bay, Port Neill and Ungarra and Butler Hall was filled to capacity when a social was given to Pte. Harold Parker last week, by the residents of the district. Dancing was the chief recreation of the evening. Mr. Howard Tilly, representing the returned soldiers, was chairman, and made a presentation on behalf of the district. Mr. P. G. Phillis spoke lor the district, and Mr. P. D. S. Cooper for the Port Neill Rifle Club. A song was rendered by Miss Margaret Parker. Supper was served, and the evening closed with the singing of ' Auld Lang Syne.'
The next month, Harold and a large number of others from his district embarked on the Stratheden in November 1940 and arriving on the 17th December in the Middle East. Conditions in Tobruk were certainly a contrast to the tranquillity of Butlers Tanks.
The Battalion were soon involved in the fierce fighting to retain Tobruk as a strategic position. In one memorable incident, with the enemy preparing for an assault on Ras El Medauuar, under the command of Captain Forbes, a successful large-scale attack was planned pre-dawn on the 22nd April ’41. Harold’s friend, Teddy Boxer, SX7528 from Penong described to the ‘West Coast Recorder’ the events that occurred:
“A company of 90 men were advancing on the enemy in the outer defences, about 20 miles from the town. At a distance of 300 yards, they charged in a line with fixed bayonets, and despite the fire of the enemy, they reached their objective and brought in 350 prisoners. He said the Germans 'threw up the sponge' when confronted by the Australians with bayonets. As the line of soldiers advanced, Pte. Boxer was hit in the leg by an antitank shell, taking the limb off below the knee. He did not feel the injury in the excitement. His first reaction to what happened was one of cold rage. Picking up his boot lying some yards away with the foot still in it, he waved it viciously at the enemy and tried to carry on, but soon had to pull up. He partly stopped the bleeding by tying two scarves tightly around his leg, and crawled to a nearby gully. In the meantime, the company withdrew with the prisoners, and back at their base a check up was made, when it was found that Pte. Boxer and others were missing, Shortly afterwards, Ptes. Harold Parker, of Butler Tanks, and Desmond Taylor, of Adelaide, went out again in a light truck and picked up a number of injured, including Pte. E Boxer. The area from which they made the rescue was still under artillery fire, and Pte. Boxer paid tribute to the courage of these two soldiers. He said that to their action he probably owes his life. He thinks that they probably volunteered to go out, as they were both mates of his. Pte. Boxer gave an indication of the stiff fight being put up by the Australians at Tobruk, when he said they were each rationed to a pint of water a day. He had worn the same singlet there for 20 months. He said he wished he could go back there again to help his mates.’
Private Harold Parker, SX7572 described the same incident in a letter to his sister, Mrs Roy Stiggants of Ceduna giving an insight into the positive effect Ted had on those with whom he fought:
“Ted Boxer enlisted about the same time as me, and one couldn't wish for a better pal. So no doubt you can realize how sorry us boys were when he was wounded. I was very pleased to hear that Ted arrived home safely and has done so well: was surprised to hear he was getting a leg so soon. Of course, times goes very quickly, and it's over four months since he was wounded. It is over three since I was wounded, and I am still here, although I thought I would have been out nearly two months ago, but it just won't heal. It's getting right now, so I shouldn't be much longer.
I was very disappointed when I came to this hospital. Ted was here, and it was a few days before he left for Australia that a bloke told me that he would tell Ted that I was down so he could drop round to see me. He must have forgotten, so I missed seeing him as I couldn't move from the bed.
I don't think anyone could have taken a knock better than he did. He was just marvellous. It was some time before he was picked up, and he had lost a terrible lot of blood. The average man would never have seen it through, but all the way on the lorry, which was some considerable distance across the rough desert, Ted just lay there smoking, and to look at his face one wouldn't have thought he had even a scratch. It was just the good spirit of Ted that helped us along. Some days things wouldn't be going the best, dust, heat, and shortage of water—and we'd all start rousing, and he would say something and start a laugh, and in pretty short time we'd all forgotten we had troubles and be quite contented.
If you see Ted, remember me to him, and tell him I am doing fine- never felt hotter- and every day has been just the same since he left extra hot.”

It is significant that Harold ‘glossed over’ his own injury in this letter, concentrating on the influence Teddy had on the Battalion. Harold survived the war and was eventually discharged in September ’45.
A special celebration was held post-war in September ’46 for Harold’s father on his 80th birthday. It was the first time in ten years that the entire family had been together. This memorable event was reported in the Port Lincoln Times where the guests included their nine sons (Les, Ern, Herbert, Victor, Allan, Clem, Sidney, Harold and Perce), and seven daughters (Miss Jean Parker, Mesdames Jean E. Florence Margaret Box, C. Stewart, G. Lawrie, E. Franks, S. Breed and L. Sinkinson) . There were also over 30 grandchildren and three great - grandchildren. Mr. Parker's only living brother, Walter, came from Adelaide to be present at the gathering. Mr. Parker was the recipient of two birthday cakes, one of which was decorated with 80 candles.’
Written and researched by Kaye Lee daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133 2/48th Battalion.