Arthur Parkes
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
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Arthur was born on 24th September 1889 and was the son youngest son of Reuben and Ann Parkes née Reason His father Reuben was born in 1840 in Lowdham and his mother Ann Reason was born in 1846 in Lowdam, their marriage was recorded in the Southwell Registration district in 1869. They had 8 children shown on census between 1891 and 1901 all of whom were born in Lowdham; they were Samuel b1870, Henry b1873, Walter b1875, Ellen b1877, William b1879, Emma b1885, Sarah A b1888 and Arthur b1889. In the 1901 census the family are living at Main Street, Lowdham, and are shown as Reubin 64 yrs head of the family a railway plate layer, he is living with his wife Ann 58 yrs and their children Emma 16 yrs, Sarah A 13 yrs and Arthur 11 yrs. His father Reuben died on 9th March 1909 at the County Asylum, Radcliffe on Trent, he was 69 yrs old. His father Reuben's probate was proven on 19th April 1909 at London and showed him as Reuben Parks of Lowdham who died on 9th March 1909 at the County Asylum, Radcliffe on Trent, his effects of £111 were left to William Haslam a wheelwright. In 1911 census he is single and working as a stableman on Hunter Hill farm, Lowdham and is one of three servants working for Caroline Hartshorne a widowed farmer aged 55 yrs.
Arthur attested at Southwell on 12th February 1912, he signed on for 4 years service in the territorial forces, he gave his age as 22 yrs and 5 months, he stated he had been born and was living in Lowdham. His occupation as farm labourer. Following his medical at Southwell on 16th February he was deemed fit to serve in the Territorials and joined the 8th battalion Sherwood Foresters and given service number 1375. He went on two summers camps with his battalion the last being Thorsby Camp on 27th July 1913. Following the outbreak of war he was embodied on 5th August 1914, however he was transferred to the 29th Provisional battalion on 21st March 1916 and on the same date was discharged from the army under the Military Service Act 1916. (It would appear he had refused to sign the Imperial Overseas Obligation form). Arthur was later conscripted and re enlisted at Derby and at first served with service number 44459 in the North Staffordshire Regiment. He later transferred and served with the Lancashire Fusiliers . He was killed in action on 23rd October 1916. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.
The Provisional battalions consisted of those men who refused to sign the Imperial Overseas Obligation Form and those who were deemed unfit for military service overseas. The Imperial Overseas Obligation Form was signed by those men who wished to serve overseas however it was not compulsory. The Military Service Act 1916 introduced conscription for the first time since war was declared, this meant that those members of the Territorial Forces who had refused to sign the Imperial Overseas Obligation form were discharged from the Army and thus reverted to civilians who then became eligible for conscription and if conscripted would have no choice but to serve overseas.
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