Edgar Isaac Parr

Private Edgar Isaac Parr stated he was a 19 year old Driver (Horse Teams) when he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 15th September, 1914 at Oakleigh, Victoria.Australia, he served with the 2nd Field Amulance Australian Army Medical Coprs,
he embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on HMAT Berrima (A35) on 22nd December, 1914.

He proceeded to join the M.E.F. (Mediterranean Expeditionary Force) at Gallipoli on 5th April, 1915.he was later returned to England

On 16th July, 1916 Private Parr proceeded to join B.E.F. (British Expeditionary Force) & joined No. 1 Australian Divisional Base at Etaples, France on 17th July, 1916. He joined 2nd Australian Field Ambulance in France from Reinforcements on 3rd August, 1916.

On 13th February, 1918 he was transferred to England from A.G.B.D. (Australian General Base Depot) at Havre due to Debility & Injury to back. He was marched in to No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth, Dorset from France on 14th February, 1918.

He was was admitted to Bagthorpe Military Hospital, Nottinghamshire on 26th February, 1918 with Phthisis while on furlo. He was transferred to 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield on 4th April, 1918.

Private Edgar Parr was discharged from Australian Imperial Force on 9th November, 1918 at 3rd Military District.

Ex-Private Edgar Parr died on 21st January, 1920. of tuberculosis his death was registered in the March quarter, 1920 in the district of Nottingham, Nottinghamshire,

He was buried in Nottingham Church Cemetery, Nottinghamshire, England and has a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone

Above information is courtesy of the Australian Virtual War Memorial and was researched and completed by Cathy Sedgwick

Following update is courtesy of the Australian Virtual War Memorial

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”

Died on this date – 21st January…… Edgar Isaac Parr was born in 1896 at Trowbridge, Wiltshire, England to parents John Fredrick & Lucy Parr (nee Young).

An “E. Parr”, Page Boy, aged 16, was a passenger on Hawkes Bay which departed from London, England on 1st July, 1913 bound for Melbourne, Australia.

Edgar Parr stated he was a 19 year old Driver (Horse Teams) when he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 15th September, 1914 at Oakleigh, Victoria. (Note: Edgar Parr stated on his Attestation Papers that his birthdate was 10th August, 1895 & that he was born at Southampton, Nottinghamshire. His religion was recorded as Methodist. He also stated he had acted as Page Boy to a Doctor in England & that he had served in Territorial Forces in Nottinghamshire for 1 ½ years.) Edgar Parr was 5 ft 7 inches with a fair complexion, brown eyes & fair hair. His next of kin was listed as Mrs L. Parr, of 11A Nottingtown Place, Sneiton, Nottingham, England.

The Medical Officer considered Edgar Parr as unfit for active service – “He is poorly developed and has a varicocele on left side. He wound be suitable for such services as an Orderly but not as a combatant.”

On 15th December, 1914 Edgar Parr re-enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) stating he was a 20 year old, single, Carpenter. He was issued a Service number of “2018 272”. The Commanding Officer approved Edgar Parr’s Attestation & appointed him to 4th Field Ambulance.

Another Attestation Paper with all the same details as the 15th December, 1914 with enlistment at Broadmeadows, however the service number has been recorded as “2018 2039A”.

He was posted to 4th Field Ambulance on 15th December, 1914 & was attached to 1st Reinforcements on 17th December, 1914.

Private Edgar Parr embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on HMAT Berrima (A35) on 22nd December, 1914.

He is listed on 2 different Nominal Rolls but showing on both as departing on HMAT Berrima (A35) on 22nd December, 1914: Private Edgar Parr, service number 2018 departed with 4th Field Ambulance, 4th Infantry Brigade “A” Section & Private Edgar Parr, service number 2039A departed with 2nd Field Ambulance 1st Reinforcements.

On 9th February, 1915 Private Parr was transferred to 2nd Field Ambulance.

Private Edgar Parr proceeded to join the M.E.F. (Mediterranean Expeditionary Force) at Gallipoli on 5th April, 1915.

He was admitted to No. 2 Australian Field Ambulance at Mena, Egypt on 21st March, 1915 with Diarrhoea & was discharged to duty on 22nd March, 1915.

On 20th August, 1915 Private Parr was admitted to Hospital at Anzac. He was transferred to Hospital Ship Canada from Mudros & invalided to England on 24th August, 1915. Private Parr, 272, of 2nd Field Ambulance was admitted to Queen Alexandra’s Military Hospital at Millbank on 10th September, 1915 from Dardanelles with Dysentery. (The War Gratuity Schedule & Casualty Form Active Service both record that he was admitted to Royal Orthopoedia Hospital, 234 Great Portland Street, London on 10th September, 1915.) He was discharged on 30th September, 1915.

Private Edgar Parr was written up for an Offence at Monte Video – “Overstaying leave from midnight 16/6/16 till 6 pm on 19/6/16.” He forfeited 3 days’ pay & was awarded 7 days Confined to Barracks.

He was transferred from Monte Video, Weymouth, Dorset to Tidworth, near Salisbury, Wiltshire on 6th July, 1916.

On 16th July, 1916 Private Parr proceeded to join B.E.F. (British Expeditionary Force) & joined No. 1 Australian Divisional Base at Etaples, France on 17th July, 1916. He joined 2nd Australian Field Ambulance in France from Reinforcements on 3rd August, 1916.

Private Parr was written up for a Crime in the field on 25th August, 1916 – “Conduct to the prejudice of good order & military discipline in that he climbed a fruit tree & shook the fruit on the ground on 24th August, 1916”. He was awarded 7 days F.P. No. 2 (Field Punishment).

He reported sick on 11th November, 1916 & was transferred to Convalescent Depot from 3rd Stationary Hospital at Rouen on 13th November, 1916 suffering from Tonsilitis.

Private Parr was marched in to 2 A.G.B.D. (Australian General Base Depot) at Etaples, France on 24th March, 1917. He was temporarily attached to Dental Clinic from 24th March, 1917 & detached to A.G.B.D. on 24th July, 1917.

He was on furlo to England from 2nd December, 1917 & returned from furlo on 19th December, 1917.

On 13th February, 1918 Private Parr was transferred to England from A.G.B.D. (Australian General Base Depot) at Havre due to Debility & Injury to back. He was marched in to No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth, Dorset from France on 14th February, 1918.

Private Parr was admitted to Bagthorpe Military Hospital, Nottinghamshire on 26th February, 1918 with Phthisis while on furlo. He was transferred to 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield on 4th April, 1918.

A Medical Report was completed on Private Edgar Parr on 6th April, 1918 at 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital. His disability was recorded as Chronic Pulmonary Tuberculosis which had originated in December, 1917 in France. Pte Parr had caught a cold in December with a persistent cough & pains across chest. He lost weight & had night sweats. Pte Parr’s present condition was listed as “weight now is 8st 13lbs usually 11st 4 lbs. Boarded at Weymouth C111 in Feb. and sent to a San on Feb. 20th at Nottingham for 5 weeks and was then sent to Harefield to be discharged in England, Is very thin and emaciated. Frequent troublesome cough….” The disability was as a result of an infection while on active service. The Medical Board recommended that Private Edgar Parr be discharged as permanently unfit for General Service and Home Service. He was discharged to No. 2 Convalescent Depot at Weymouth on 13th May, 1918 & was marched in to No. 2 Convalescent Depot at Weymouth, Dorset the same day.

On 24th June, 1918 Private Parr was admitted to 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield with Tubercle of Lung.

Private Edgar Parr was returned to Australia from England for discharge at his own request on 30th June, 1918. Private Parr embarked from the port of Suez on 21st July, 1918 on the Kanowna. While on board the Kanowna, he was reported on 28th July, 1918 as being “very debilitated on coming on board. Improving eating and sleeping better. Still very weak.” He returned to Melbourne, Australia on 1st September, 1918.

A letter was written to Victoria Barracks, Melbourne on 12th July, 1918 from Mrs W. H. Kennaugh, of Wollongbar, Richmond River, NSW, asking for any information on ”Edgar Parr, a returned soldier who was expected to arrive in Melbourne this week – he is suffering from consumption and will probably be in hospital. I am anxious to learn of his where abouts as he has no relatives here.” A reply was sent from Base Records stating that it was necessary to include the regimental number & unit to which he was attached so that he could be identified.

A Radiological Examination was completed on Private Edgar Parr on 13th September, 1918 at No. 5 Australian General Hospital. The pathology report found that T.B. was present.

He was admitted to Military Sanatorium, Macleod, Australian Army Medical Corps on 18th September, 1918.

A Charge was recorded against Private Edgar Parr, Dental Corps, late 2nd Field Ambulance, by Military Sanatorium Macleod – (1) A.W.L. from 5.30 pm on the 18th October, 1918 till 11 am on the 21st October, 1918 – 3 days & (2) Conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline and that he was wearing civilian clothes. He was fined 10- for the first offence & £1 for the second offence & forfeited 3 days’ pay.

A handwritten note from the Captain, Australian Army Medical Corp, Military Sanatorium, Macleod reads: “No 272 Pte PARR Edgar, 2nd Fld Amb – Requires further treatment – he is totally incapacitated from earning a livelihood for at least 6 months from this date service being the cause.” (Note – no date was recorded on the note).

Private Edgar Parr was discharged from Australian Imperial Force on 9th November, 1918 at 3rd Military District.

The Department of Repatriation, Melbourne wrote to Base Records Melbourne on 28th January, 1919 stating that No. 272 Private Edgar Parr, 2nd F. Amb. No. 16 A.G.H., Macleod had applied to the Department of Repatriation for a Free Passage to England. They were requesting confirmation that the regiment particulars were correct.

Ex-Private Edgar Parr died on 21st January, 1920. His death was registered in the March quarter, 1920 in the district of Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England.

He was buried in Nottingham Church Cemetery, Nottinghamshire, England and has a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone. It is also known as Church (Rock) Cemetery on account of its sandstone rock faces and caves.

Private E. Parr is not commemorated on the Roll of Honour, located in the Hall of Memory Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia as he was no longer eligible as he was not a member of the Australian Armed Forces at the time of his death, having been discharged in 1918.