Pte 30102 James Percival Parkinson

• Age: 19
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: 13th KLR
• Died on Thursday 3rd May 1917
• Commemorated at: Drury Crucifix Cemetery
  Panel Ref: II.G.12

He was christened as James Percival Parkinson on the 26th July 1896 at St Peter's Church, Liverpool, he was born on the 08th July 1896, the son of James Parkinson and his wife Elizabeth (née Selkirk). His parents, both born in Liverpool, were married on the 15th March 1885 at Christ Church, Kensington. James senior was a 28 year old watchmaker of Holt Road, father John deceased, whilst Elizabeth was aged 24, also of Holt Road, father Thomas deceased. 

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 66 Coleridge Street, Fairfield. His father, James, is aged 44, a silver polisher, his mother, Elizabeth, is aged 39. They have four children in the household at the time the Census was taken;  Harriet 11, Edith 9, Percy is 4, and Arthur S. 1.   

The 1911 Census shows the family had moved to 17 Ronald Street, Old Swan. His father, James, is aged 52, a plate polisher for a silversmith, his mother, Elizabeth, is aged 47. They advised that they have been married for 26 years, and have had 7 children, 6 of whom have survived. They now have two children in the household; Percy is aged 14, an errand boy, and (Arthur) Stanley 11,is  at school.   

His service record has not survived so his military career can only be estimated. 

He enlisted in Liverpool with the The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No. 30102, his medal roll shows both 20th and 13th Battalions. As he did not receive the 1915 Star we are assured he did not arrive in France until 1916. 

He was listed in a batch of over 100 wounded in the Liverpool Daily Post on the 04th August 1916. He will have been involved in the build up, or even taken part in the operation to take the village of Guillemont and most likely wounded on 30th July 1916. 

King’s (Liverpool Regt.) - Parkinson, 30102, P. J. (Liverpool); 

After recovery he must have been transferred or attached to the 13th Battalion of the King's Liverpool Regiment. 

His was killed in action, with his death presumed on or since the 03rd May 1917. 

13th Battalion War Diary - May 1917  

ARRAS 

1st - The Battn. moved from billets in ARRAS by Companies at intervals of 15 minutes. Headquarters and the first Company moving off at 8 15 p.m. to take up positions in the frontline xxxxxxx trenches.  

2nd - Remained in the front line trenches. 

3rd - About 1 a.m. the Battn. moved to their assembly positions at 3 45 a.m. The two leading Companies moved out of the front line trench.  

Strong Lewis gunfire was maintained on the enemies front line to prevent his escaping the barrage by leaving his trenches. Notwithstanding the difficulty presented by the darkness, which had not lifted, the leading Companies hugged the barrage, although assailed by heavy machine gun fire, and the attack progressed to a line running N. and S., about 100 yards E. of BOIS DES AUBEPINES. 

A hostile counter attack was launched at the leading Companies from the N. and N.E.  

It was completely beaten back, but the line was greatly depleted by M.G. and rifle fire from the N. flank, and also from a North Westerly direction, which took it in the rear.  

A second and strong hostile counter attack which was delivered from the N. flank, was met very gallantly but the line was by this time so thin, no supports having come up that withdrawal was necessary to prevent the troops being cut off. The withdrawal was carried out in good order in conjunction with the 4th Royal Fusiliers, back to the original front line trench. 

His family put a request in the Liverpool Echo on Friday 08th June 1917 for any information on their missing son: 

MISSING—NEWS WANTED  

Private Percy James Parkinson, K.L.R., has been missing since May 3. Any information will gladly received by his parents, 17, Ronald-street, Old Swan.   

His mother suffered further grief when her husband died on the 17th December 1917, at the age of 61. 

His father's death was reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on Tuesday 11 December 1917: 

PARKINSON – December 7, James Parkinson, 17, Ronald street, Old Swan. Interment at West Derby Cemetery, to-morrow (Wednesday), 2 p.m. (Sadly missed Wife and Children.) 

A confirmation of Percy's death in the local press has not been found. 

He now rests at Dury Crucifix Cemetery, in grave II. G. 12. 

The cemetery was begun by Canadian units (mainly the 46th and 47th Battalions) immediately after the capture of the village, and it contained at the Armistice 72 graves (now in Plot I, Rows A and B). It was then enlarged by the concentration of graves from the battlefields of April and May, 1917, and March, August and September, 1918, North and West of Dury, plus the following cemetery:- ESSEX CEMETERY, ETERPIGNY, was on the South side of the village of Eterpigny and contained the graves of 33 soldiers from the United Kingdom who fell in September, 1918, 19 of whom belonged to the 2nd Essex, and ten to the 2nd Seaforths. There are 2058 First World War casualties buried in this site. Of these, 1766 are unidentified. This cemetery was designed by G H Goldsmith. [from CWGC] 

The only other KLR man to die the same day as Percy, and buried at Drury Cemetery, is Pte 58586 James Brophy, also of the13th Battalion K.L.R.

Percy’s Army pay of 14s 10d, War Gratuity £8 10s and pension of 14/- pw went to his mother Elizabeth, 17 Ronald Street. He received his two medals. 

On the 1921 Census at 17 Ronald St, widowed mother Elizabeth is aged 60, son Stanley, aged 22, is out of work but was a machinist for Harland and Wolfe in Bootle. On the 1939 Register she is living with married daughter Harriet Howarth at 21 Leopold Rd, Kensington. She died aged 80 in 1942.   

Percy is commemorated on the memorial at St Anne’s Church, Fairfield.  https://saintannestanley.co.uk/war%20memorials/l_r.html 

We currently have no further information on Percy James Parkinson, if you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.