Edward Richard Parry
1911 - Collier Banksman above ground
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Edward Richard Parry was born on 15th January 1897 at Greasley, Nottinghamshire, he was baptised on 8th August 1897 at North Wingfield, Derbyshire. he was the son of George a coal miner hewer and Ellen Jane Parry née Neal and the brother of Joseph, Sarah, Richard and Ellen Jane Parry.
His father George was born in 1862 at Wellow, Nottinghamshire, his mother Ellen Jane Neal was born in 1862 at Newmarket, Cambridgeshire they were married on 13th August 1879 at Ault Hucknall, Derbyshire, they went on to have 10 children, sadly 3 were to die in infancy or early childhood.
In the 1911 census the family were living at Hardwick Street Holmewood Chesterfield George 49 yrs is a coal miner hewer he is living with is wife Ellen Jane 49 yrs and their children, Sarah 25 yrs working at home, George 16 yrs a coal miner pony driver, (Edward) Richard 14 yrs a colliery banksman and Ethel Jane 11 yrs of age.
Edward Richard Parry enlisted at Chesterfield whilst residing at Holmewood, Derbyshire. he served with 9th Battalion Sherwood Foresters on Gallipoli and in Egypt. They moved to France at the end of June 1916 and were sent to the Arras sector to get used to trench warfare. In August the move to the Somme was made and training began for an offensive in late September.
On 26th September the Battle of Thiepval commenced and the battalion moved out of Constance trench following a creeping barrage. In ten minutes the first objective was taken and prisoners taken along with armaments. They also took the second objective quickly but had problems by keeping to close to the barrage, this causing casualties. A halt was made at Zollern trench for one hour allowing reorganisation of the men prior to the attack on Hessian Trench. The battalion took it's portion of the trench but other battalions had problems. This left the battalion 'sharing' the trench with the enemy and this would last overnight and into the following day. The brigadier put it thus - 'The manner in which Hessian Trench was tenaciously held during the night of 26/27th September by the 9th Sherwood Foresters reflected the greatest credit on that battalion as it was without touch on it's right and left with anyone except the enemy' It was though at high cost and one of these men was Edward. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.
John Morse
Private Edward Richard Parry on the cwgc website is listed as dying on 16th September 1916, however on other records including soldiers effects and pension record card and soldiers died in the Great War his death his recorded as 26th September 1916.
Additional research and information Peter Gillings
Edward Richard Parry name on Memorial
22158 Private Edward Richard Parry was killed in action during the Battle of Thiepval on 26 September 1916. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. Visited, wreath laid and photo taken by John Morse