Regiment: Royal Sussex, 12th Battalion, 39th Division
Service No: G/16307
Date & place of birth: Jan-Mar 1892, Shoreham
Date & place of death: 8 October 1916 (aged 24), Western Front
Private “Harry” Parker is one of the men who appears on more than one memorial; he is also included in the Fittleworth Parish Church War memorial as he was brought up in Byworth.
Family background
Henry Parker was born in the Steyning/Shoreham area in 1892, the son of George and Matilda Parker. George was a farm foreman and by 1901 the family (including 2 brothers and 3 sisters to Henry) was living in Byworth. By 1911, Henry was a farm labourer and still living at home.
Henry Parker married Annie Hilda Etherington in 1913. She had been born in Midhurst April-June 1892. In 1901 she had been living with her uncle in Riverside, Dorking. They had two children, Lilian born Jul-Sept 1913 and Robert born Jan-Mar 1916 in Brentford.
Military service
Private Parker enlisted in Petworth. His battalion went to France in May 1915. In 1916 they were involved in the battles at Thiepval Ridge, Ancre Heights and The Ancre.
Death and commemoration
Private Henry Charles Parker died of wounds received on the Western Front on 8 October 1916. He is buried in Auchonvilliers Military Cemetery, F.35.