2941, Rifleman, Ivor Willie PARSONS
Age 24
London Regiment, 9th Battalion (Queen Victoria's Rifles)
Killed in Action on Friday 21st July 1916
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Born in Lakenheath (Mildenhall Q2-1892 4A:763)
1901 census...Aged 9, he was living at Mill Road, Lakenheath, with his father- John PARSONS [40] builder and contractor; mother- Rosina (née ROLPH)[35]; brother- Horace H [13]; brother- Cyril H [11]. All were born in Lakenheath. 1911 census...Aged 19, a hosiers assistant, boarder at 34 Whitton Road, Hounslow with George and Margaret Burch. His parents were at High Street, Lakenheath, with brother Horace and sister Vera Maud [7] but two siblings had died. HIs parents were at "Sycamores", Lakenheath at the end of the war. |
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Enlisted in London. According to the war diary, the battalion were in billets at Bienvillers and Fonquevillers and were shelled on 21st, having 4 killed and 8 wounded. The Bury Free Press of 5th August 1916 reported:- LAKENHEATH SOLDIER'S DEATH IN ACTION Mr. and Mrs. John Parsons, "The Sycamores", Lakenheath, received letters on Tuesday morning containing the sad news that their youngest son, Rifleman Ivor W.Parsons, of the Queen Victoria's Territorial Rifles, London, was killed on July 11th. An official letter from the War Office announced the fact and another from Second Lieut.H.E.Pidack gives further particulars. He writes "I regret to inform you that your son, Rifleman Ivor W.Parsons, was killed by a shell on the 21st inst. whilst we were resting in billets just behind the firing line. You will no doubt be relieved to know that the shell killed him instantly, and the poor boy had no suffering at all. The loss has been keenly felt by his platoon, in which he was very popular. I myself am very sorry to lose him,as he was one of the best men in my platoon and always did his duty unflinchingly and with a good heart. His body was buried with full rites". |
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