PARSONS, Sydney
| Service Number: | 66261 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 21 June 1918 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 16th to 27th Reinforcements (NSW) |
| Born: | Victoria, Australia, 18 October 1898 |
| Home Town: | Bexley, Rockdale, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Sydney Technical High School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Salesman |
| Died: | Carlton, New South Wales, Australia, 27 August 1950, aged 51 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | New South Wales Garden of Remembrance (Rookwood Necropolis), Sydney Technical High School WW1 Roll Of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 21 Jun 1918: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 66261, 57th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Oct 1918: | Involvement Private, 66261, 16th to 27th Reinforcements (NSW), --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '20' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: SS Zealandic embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 5 Oct 1918: | Embarked Private, 66261, 16th to 27th Reinforcements (NSW), SS Zealandic, Melbourne |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Sydney Technical High School
Sydney Parsons was born in Cheltenham, Victoria on 18 October 1898 (1). His formative years were spent with his parents, Sydney Horace Parsons and Annie Muriel Hansen, who relocated to "Dorow," Carrington Street, Bexley, New South Wales (2). Between 1911 and 1916, he attended Sydney Technical High School, where he was shaped by practical education and civic duty as war consumed Europe (3). The school's atmosphere during these years was charged with a patriotic passion, as older students departed for overseas service, creating an environment where military duty was viewed as inevitable. Upon leaving school, Sydney worked as a Salesman while serving two years in the local 35th Area Infantry militia (4). His enlistment was accepted on 21 June 1918, with parental consent confirming his readiness to serve (5).
Sydney was assigned to the 57th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, embarking from Melbourne aboard HMAT Zealandic on 5 October 1918 as New South Wales Reinforcement 20 (6). Sydney arrived in London 5 December 1918 after the armistice. He was admitted to ship's hospital on 19 October 1918 with an infection for nine days. In January he was hospitalised in England for an unknown condition from 3th - 11th January. Sydney proceeded to France 25th January 1919 and then contracted influenza and laryngitis, requiring transfer back to England for further hospital treatment. His illness reflected the harsh realities of military life during the 1918–1919 influenza pandemic.
Sydney was repatriated back to Australia aboard SS Leicestershire, arriving 21 June 1919 (10). His official discharge came on 29 April 1920.
Sydney Parsons passed away 27 August 1950.
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Endnotes:
1. Date of birth and residential address: NAA Service Record – Attestation Paper
2. School attendance: Sydney Technical High School records.
3. Militia service: NAA Service Record – Attestation Paper.
4. Enlistment date and parental consent: NAA Service Record – Enlistment Documents.
5. Embarkation date: NAA Service Record – Embarkation Roll.
6. Disembarkation in London: NAA Service Record – Movement Orders.
7. Ship hospital admission: NAA Service Record – Medical History Sheet.
8. Illness in France and evacuation: NAA Service Record – Casualty Form.
9. Return to Australia: NAA Service Record – Embarkation Return.
10. First discharge: NAA Service Record – Discharge Certificate.
11. Final discharge: NAA Service Record – Medical Board Report.
12. Medals awarded: NAA Service Record – Medal Entitlement Form.
13. Death and final discharge: NAA Service Record – Final Entry and Death Certificate.