242205 Pte. William Isaiah Parkes British Army 10th Btn. Worcestershire Regiment from:54 Chapel Street, Pensnett, Staffordshire (d.6th October 1917) My Uncle, Billy Parkes joined the Royal Worcestershire Regiment as part of Kitcheners New Army. He was initially given the number of 4329 - this was subsequentely changed to 201838.
After taking part in various assaults - this culminated in the 3rd Battle of Ypres - known as Pashendaele - which began on 31st July 1917 for a period of 3 months. Consistent rain and mud together with the constant bombardment of warfare created 'Hell on Earth'.
This culminated in my Uncle being involved in the Battle of Broodseinde and he was wounded on the opening day of this battle - 4th October 1917 - he was taken to a field hospital where he sadly died two days later on the 6th October 1917.
After doing some research I could find no trace of his memory within the family other than his name on Memorial Plaques in St. Marks Church, Pensnett, Staffordshire, so I contacted the Royal Worcestershire Regiment - which are now re-named the Mercian Regiment, at Imjin Barracks, Gloucester, and they kindly sent me details they had on the 10th Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment to which he belonged. They also confirmed his date of death and gave me his Commonwealth War Grave details - he is buried at Outtersteene Communal Cemetary Extension, France and was 22 years old when he died.
They also disclosed that his two Medals were sent out to his home address in March 1922 but were returned, they suggested probably because his mother had either died or had moved. However, I have discovered that neither was the case - I can only think that my Grandmother was so bereft and maybe felt that she had sacrificed her first born and eldest son and that the glory attached to the medals was superficial. I never knew my grandparents, both died some years before I was born, and I can only imagine just how devastated they and millions of others must have felt.
My Dad (George Henry Parkes) was 18 years younger than William. Therefore, my Dad would have been 2 years old when he joined up and only 4 years of age when William died therefore my dad would have had no real recollection of his brother and other than what he told me of Williams' name on the Memorial Plaques in Pensnett.
This was all I know, and the rest of the family of that generation have long passed away. I did ask the Mercian, Worcestershire Regiment and MOD if, as a living close relative of William if as his original medals were never claimed by my grandparents, I could claim them now. However, I was told that no further issues of First World War Medals were being made. I was so sorry to be told this as I would have liked William's Medals and details to have been framed and hung on my wall next to my Dad's (his 'baby' brother) who served for 13 years in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment from 1933 until 1946, whose medals include the Burma Star. This sadly cannot now happen.
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