PARMENTER, Henry


No.40944, Corporal, Henry PARMENTER
Aged 19


7th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
formerly 1416, Suffolk Regiment
Killed in Action on Saturday, 28th April 1917


Henry PARMENTER was born in Haverhill (Risbridge Q2-1887 4A:64), son of Charles and Ellen PARMENTER (née SILLITOE)

1891 census...Aged 3, he was at Eden Road, Haverhill with his father Charles PARMENTER [36] foreman mat maker; his mother Ellen [35] cloth clipper; sisters Hannah [15] tailoress, Rose [11], Emma [7 days]; brothers George [9] and Albert [1].All except the three youngest were born in Long Melford, the three youngest born in Haverhill.

1901 census...Aged 13, a shop boy, he was at 7 Duddery Row, Haverhill with his parents; sisters Emma (hair weaver), Eva [10], Ethel [8], Flora [4] and Gladys [1 month]; brothers George (mat weaver), Albert [11] and Stanley [6]. All the newcomers were born in Haverhill.

In 1908 he married Ethel Alice NOTLEY [20-9-1888]

1911 census...Aged 23, cocoamat maker, he was at 31 Mill Road, Haverhill with his wife Ethel [22] hair weaver born Withersfield; daughter Freda Alice [17-9-19082] born Withersfield and son Charles Henry [28-5-1910] born Haverhill. His parents were still at 7 Duddery Road with his sisters Emma (hair cloth weaver), Eva (sewing machinist), Flora machine cloth weaver and Gladys (scholar); brothers Albert (tailor) and Stanley (printing machine worker). His mother had lost 2 of her 13 children.

Henry and Ethel had two more children, Phyllis Frances [11-1-1911] and Reginald [9-2-1915]. The pension card has them at 7 Downs Placwe, Haverhill, but deleted and "Guardian... A.NOTLEY" inserted,
In 1920 Ethel married William PEACOCK of Haverhill




He attested in Haverhill.
On 28 April, formations north of 12th Division undertook an operation to capture Roeux. 35th Brigade took part and attacked Rifle and Bayonet Trench but owing to heavy enemy shellfire and machine guns firing from Roeux - which was not captured - fell back to its start point.
The battalion war diary has:-
" In the line - 28th - Brigade attacked lines in front of PELVES, Norfolks right, Berks left, Suffolk to pass through Berks and capture far objective. Zero was at 4:25 am. Battn left SUNKEN ROAD just behind front line at 4:45 am in artillery formation. Heavy barrage and M.G. fire and attack failed, unable to advance beyond BAYONET TRENCH"


Bayonet, Rifle and Bomb Trenches were immediately south of Roeux and in German hands at this time. CWGC records show 94 killed of the 7th Suffolk and only 8 have known graves.

The South West Suffolk Echo reported on 19th May 1917:-
"We much regret to announce that Mrs. H.Parmenter, of 7 Down's Place, Haverhill, has received intimation from the War Office that her husband, Corpl.H Parmenter, thirty years of age, second son of Mr. and Mrs. C. Parmenter of 7 Duddery Road, Haverhill, was killed in action on April 28th. Corpl. Parmenter will be much missed in the town. He enlisted in the Suffolk Regiment, in which he was at the time of his death. He was an employee of Messrs D. Gurteen and Sons in their mat department for sixteen years prior to joining up, and his loss will be severely felt by all with whom he came into contact, especially the Haverhill Brass Band, in which he acted as drummer.He leaves a widow and four young children."



photo: Rodney Gibson



Henry Parmenter is commemorated on the Arras memorial, Faubourg d'Amiens, bay 4

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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