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Pte. Harry William Charles Parr
British Army 101st Coy Machine Gun Corps
from:Southampton
Having looked through my Nans, Harry Parrs's daughters old papers I have tried to piece together his story. So far this is what I know from birth certificates, war office letters to his mum, and discharge papers.
Harry Parr was born 18th Feb 1899 at Edgeware road London to parents Henry Parr and Adelaide Parr formerly Gilbert.
He enlisted on the 19th Feb 1916 aged 17. He was a private in the Machine Gun Corps 1st Batallion Hamshire Regiment. I have a letter from his mother to the war office requesting him to be sent home due to being under age, dated 13th March 1917, a year after he had enlisted. There are several correspondence from the war office to say it's being dealt with but I have no evidence to say he returned.
On 24th April 1917 there is a letter to say that he has been admitted to 22 General Hospital at 'Gamuirs' (can't work out where this is due to incorrect spelling). He is suffering with trench foot. The next letter on 8th May 1918 from the war office writes that he has been admitted to 47 General Hospital in Le Tréport suffering from a Gun Shot wound to his thigh fracturing bone on the 27th April 1918. His discharge papers record 28th March 1919 a year later.
I have pictures of him and three others taken around that time. I also have a picture of a Chalet in Le Tréport. Last night I found a similar picture in someone's elses archives which show this to be a Y M C A Hostel for friends of the injured. Maybe someone in his family visited and sent this home. Harry thankfully must have returned, as he later fathered two girls, one being my Nan Patricia Parr.
If anyone has any bits of information to where Harry may have fought, or if anyone you knew were with him at the same time please get in touch.
Editor's Note:- Private Harry Parr's medal card shows that he was initially 24625 in the Hampshire Regiment and then Private 133204 in the Machine Gun Corps, 101st Company. The hospital (number 22 General Hospital) mentioned above was at Camiers. With reference to the injury received in April 1918, his Company were part of the 34th Division which was heavily engaged in the Battle of Lys, suffering heavy losses.
