Pte 57728 Henry Parkinson

• Age: 39
• From: Blackburn
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 9th April 1917
• Commemorated at: Bucquoy Rd Cem Ficheux
  Panel Ref: VI.L.3

Henry Parkinson was born in Blackburn on the 08th February 1878, the son of William Parkinson and his wife Margaret (nee Larkin)  who were married on the 28th April 1861 at Manchester Cathedral. Henry was baptised on the 17th March 1878 at St Mary the Virgin Church, Blackburn. 

The 1881 census shows the 3 year old Henry living with his parents and six siblings at 6 Napier Street in Blackburn. His father William is 58 and is a Prudential Assurance collector, Margaret, who was born in Limerick, is 45 and looking after the home. Their children are: Mary Jane aged 24 who is a cotton winder, Elizabeth 20, Emma 19 and Alfred 14 who are all cotton weavers, John who is a dobby harness maker (which is a type of loom), and Edward aged 5. 

By 1891 the family are living at 14 Plane Street Blackburn. Henry – who is recorded as Harry – is working as an errand boy. His parents have five of their children living at home as well as Harry, there’s Mary Jane, Emma, John, and Edward. Their father William is now retired. Also there is a five year old grandchild called Florence Smith who must be daughter Elizabeth’s child. 

Harry’s father William died just before the 1901 Census aged 79 in Fylde. Harry and his mother are living together at 12 Chorlton Road, Blackburn at the time of the Census.

Harry married Jane Alice Pemberton in 1902 at St Silas' Church, Blackburn, they had their first daughter Vera Pemberton in 1908. 

The 1911 Census records show Henry living in Liverpool, at 18 Langdon Road, Wavertree. He is 33 years old and is an assistant supervisor for Prudential Assurance, his wife Jane Alice is 30 years of age and was also born in Blackburn. They state that they have been married for 8 years and have had two children one of whom has sadly died. They have a three year old daughter called Vera who was born in Liverpool. They also have three visitors; Mabel Woods aged 38, her daughter Gladys aged 13 and her son Wilfred aged 5.

Another daughter Alice Margaret Pemberton was born in 1915.

Henry  joined the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 57728. He was killed in action on 09th April 1917 aged 39. This was Easter Monday and the opening day of the Battle of Arras.

Arras 09^th April 1917

Details of the circumstances the 18^th Battalion had to contend with are illustrated below:

The battalion formed the left assaulting battalion of the brigade, the 2^nd Wiltshire Regiment being on the right, the 19^th Manchester Regiment being in support and 2^nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment furnishing “moppers -up”  for the two assaulting battalions. The brigade advance was timed to begin at ---- hour after “Zero”, suited to conform with the movements of 56^th Division and other divisions on our left further north (near Arras). This battalion’s objective was the front-line system Lion Lane on the left (exclusive) to Panther Lane on right (exclusive). This sector included the strongpoint known as “The Egg”.

The brigade advanced at prearranged time, i.e., 11.38 a.m, from position of assembly trenches south of Neuville Vitasse to German front line. This necessitated an advance across the open of at least 2,000 yards. This area up to Neuville Vitasse- Henin road was crossed in artillery formation; after this, owing to machine-gun fire and considerable resistance from German posts forward in the sunken roads, it was found necessary to deploy. During the whole movement across the open the advancing columns had been under considerable artillery fire from guns of all calibres. On gaining the position immediately in front of German line it was found that the wire was practically uncut; this wire formed two strong belts in front of German trenches. Two small gaps were eventually discovered and Second-Lieut H.F.Merry gallantly led a bombing party through them, but his three remaining men were killed as they reached the German trenches.

From the moment the battalion was “held up” in front of German wire Capt. R. W. Jones, the senior company commander on the spot, at once began the work of consolidating in front of German wire. The battalion held on in this position for the remainder of the day, until relieved by the 16^th Manchester Regiment about 3 a.m. on the 10^th of April, all the time under intense machine-gun and rifle fire.

Between 9th-10th April, 1917, the 18th King's lost 2 officers 2nd Lt. F. Ashcroft and 2nd Lt. H.G. Ewing and 59 other ranks killed. 8 other officers were wounded. 

Henry now rests at Bucquoy Road Cemetery in France at plot VI.L.3 where his headstone bears the poignant epitaph:

"HE GAVE ALL THAT HE COULD AND DIED A HERO TRUE".

In November 1916, the village of Ficheux was behind the German front line, but by April 1917, the German withdrawal had taken the line considerably east of the village and in April and May, the VII Corps Main Dressing Station was posted near for the Battles of Arras. It was followed by the 20th and 43rd Casualty Clearing Stations, which remained at Boisleux-au-Mont until March 1918, and continued to use the Bucquoy Road Cemetery begun by the field ambulances. From early April to early August 1918 the cemetery was not used but in September and October, the 22nd, 30th and 33rd Casualty Clearing Stations came to Boisleux-au-Mont and extended it. By the date of the Armistice, it contained 1,166 burials but was greatly increased when graves were brought in from the surrounding battlefields and from small cemeteries in the neighbourhood. 

The cemetery now contains 1,901 burials and commemorations of the First World War. 168 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to 23 casualties known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials commemorate 21 casualties buried by their comrades in Henin-sur-Cojeul German Cemetery, whose graves could not be found on concentration.

The cemetery was used again in May 1940 for the burial of troops killed during the German advance. There are 136 burials and commemorations of the Second World War; 26 of the burials are unidentified and special memorials commemorate 39 soldiers whose graves in the cemetery could not be specifically located.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to widow Jane Alice and children Vera Pemberton and Alice Margaret Pemberton, 10 Lunedale Rd, Fallowfield, Manchester.

Harry earned two medals the Victory Medal and British War Medal indicating that he served abroad from 1916 onwards.  

Henry is also remembered on the memorial at the former HQ of Prudential Assurance in Holborn, London, to the memory of all 787 of their employees who lost their lives in WW1.