John Parkin
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
John was born in retford in 1882 and was the son of Mrs Annie Parkin, 12 Spa Lane, Retford, widow of the late Mr Arthur Parkin who years ago was employed by Messrs Hurst and Son, builders and joiners, Corporation Wharfe, Retford . John was the eldest of three sons, his brothers were Fred and Arthur and he also had a sister Lilly. In the 1911 census the family are living at 12 Spa lane , John is 29 years of age , single and a carter, his two brothers and sisters are also at the address. In 1912 John married Elizabeth Gregory at Retford and lived at Moorgate Hill, Retford with their two young children. Following his death his Elizabeth moved with her children to Rotherham to be with her parents.
John enlisted in June 1916 and served with the 17th battalion, Sherwood Foresters (notts and Derbys) Regiment. he went to France in November 1916. he was killed in action on 4th August 1917 and is buried in Track X Cemetery, West Vlaanderen, Belgium , grave reference E 35 Belgium
Pte John Parkin Retford Times 7 Sept 1917 Mrs Parkin, 12 Spa Lane, Retford, widow of the late Mr Arthur Parkin who years ago was employed by Messrs Hurst and Son, builders and joiners, Corporation Wharfe, Retford, has just heard that the eldest of her three sons, serving in the war has made the great sacrifice. He is Pte John Parkin (35) Sherwood Foresters, Moorgate Hill, Retford. His wife, who is left with two young children, and is now living with her parents at Rotherham, received information from the War Office that he was killed on July 30th. He joined the colours a year ago last June and had been in France about nine months. He was an old scholar of the Retford National School and before the war was employed by Mr William Crossland, coal merchant, Grove Street, Retford. The other two brothers of the deceased soldier are also in the Sherwood Foresters, viz, Pte Fred Parkin (26) who has been serving for nearly three years and was formerly employed at the Carr Foundry; and Pte Arthur Parkin (22) who was called up last July and is now training at Sunderland. He was a shunter on the Great Central Railway, Retford.
