No.17437, Corporal, William James PARMENTER
Aged 21
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James William Parmenter was born in Cavendish on 21st June 1895 (Sudbury Q3-1895 4A:768), son of George William and Sarah Ann PARMENTER
(née PERRY). As ever, he can be James William or William James. The military tending to use William James.
1901 census...Aged 5, Willie was at The Wash, Cavendish with his father George PARMENTER [43] horse keeper; his mother Sarah [38]; brother Harry [14] errand boy at flour mill; sisters Jessie [12], Edith [10] and Mary A [8]. All were born in Cavendish. 1911 census...Aged 15, William, a farm labourer, he was still at The Wash, Cavendish with his parents; brother Harry (horse man), and sister Mary [18]. All five children survive. |
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He enlisted in Sudbury.
The 28th April was a hard day for both the 7th and 11th Suffolks, the 11th at Roeux, the 7th close by. The 12th Division made a thrust between the Scarpe and Monchy, the 7th Suffolks going over the top at 4.45 a, to attack the Blue Line, passing through the 5th Berkshires who had just captured Bayonet trench and part of Rifle trench. They came under heavy machine gun fire from Roeux which the troops on the other side of the river had not yet taken. They suffered heavy losses, all the officers except the Colonel and Adjutant were killed or wounded. Small parties returned to Black line when it grew dark and at 1 am the battalion withdrew to the support line, it was now reduced to 190 effectives. 96 men had been killed of which only 9 have identified graves.
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