Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
Albert James Enoch Parsons (known as Bert) was born in Cranham, Gloucestershire on 26 May 1893, the eldest child of Albert William Parsons and Eliza Jane Parsons (née Fownes).
In the 1901 Census, Bert was living at Well Alley, High Street, Tewkesbury with his parents and three siblings; Frank aged one, William aged three and Ellen aged five years. By the time of the 1911 Census the family was living in High Street, Tewkesbury with a further son Edward who was born in 1902 and Albert who was working as a Printer’s Apprentice.
On 1 September 1913 Bert joined the Great Western Railway as a cleaner but from 27 October 1913 he was employed as a Shedman. He left the GWR on 10 May 1915, probably due to military call up.
He was married on 20 June 1914 at Bridgend, Glamorgan to Kate Elizabeth Matthews and the couple went on to have three children: Ellen Catherine born on 15 March 1915; John W (William?), who died at age six months and Frank Edward (Frankie) born on 28 January 1920, after his father had died.
It is believed that upon enlistment, Bert was posted to the 2/5th Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment, although there is no mention of the Glosters on his Medal Index Card at the National Archives, which only states service with the Machine Gun Corps (MGC).
The MGC was not formed until October 1915. He evidently sailed overseas with the 2nd/5th Glosters in May 1916. The Division of which it was part, the 61st, did not take part in any of the Somme battles but was involved in the infamous Battle of Fromelles on 19 July 1916, with the 1st Australian Division, in order to divert German troops from the Somme.
The Tewkesbury Register of 12 August 1916 published the following letter which was co-authored by Bert Parsons:
A Message from the Front With the 2/5th Glosters – somewhere in France
August 6th 1916
Dear Mr. Editor, – A few lines to let you know how the Tewkesbury “b’hoys” are sticking it out here. We have now been out here – months, and in this space of time have seen much fighting. We are now got quite used to the sound of gunfire and Fritz’s iron rations (shells) being served out to us and which out here are called coalboxes, rumjars, miniwerfers and whizzbangs.
We have experienced several ‘strafes’ and seen many aeroplane duels. It is more than exciting during a bombardment, and we are all of the same opinion – that we shall not want to pay 6d again for admission to the Bell Bowling Green to see a firework display.
We all see ‘The Register’ every week, which is much looked forward to.
We have met several Tewkesbury lads of other regiments out here, all of them like ourselves – anxious to be back in dear old Tewkesbury. Trusting this will find all our friends in the best of health, and hoping we shall all meet soon, when an honourable peace has been proclaimed.
(Signed) Ptes. Fred Boroughs, Charles Sandford, Thomas S. Cleal, Bert. Parsons.
It is believed that Bert’s transfer into the Machine Gun Corps (MGC) with the number 108664 occurred in the first week of August 1917. He would have transferred as an individual and not part of a batch, presumably upon recovering from a wound.
Transferees in France were sent to Camiers on the Channel coast, retrained, and dispatched to the Machine Gun Corps companies in dribs and drabs.
Machine Gun Companies would send requisitions almost daily for casualty and sickness replacements so it is hard for historians to pick up a pattern of any man’s movements. As a consequence, the MGC Company (and latterly Battalion) in which Parsons served is unknown.
Bert died on 13 August 1919, aged 26, and is buried in Tewkesbury Cemetery.
His Death Certificate states that he accidentally drowned while bathing in the River Avon at The Witheys in the Borough of Tewkesbury.
At the time of his death he was living at 75 High Street in Tewkesbury and his occupation was listed as a platelayer on the railways.
His headstone records that he was in the Machine Gun Corps at the time of his death. Nothing further is known, as neither a service or pension record (if appropriate) appear to have survived.
The fact that he has a CWGC headstone on his grave and he appears in the CWGC Register would indicate that he was either still serving at the time of death or that he may have been the recipient of an Army pension.
The cause of death would not appear to be service related, unless he was still a serving soldier.
The Tewkesbury Register of Saturday, 16 August 1919 contained a graphic report of the circumstances of his drowning:
Return Soldier drowned:
It is with regret that we have to record the tragic death of one of Tewkesbury’s war heroes.
On Wednesday afternoon, a young man named Albert John Ernest (sic) Parsons, son of Mrs Cull* of High Street, was drowned whilst bathing in the River Avon at a spot known as the Withies.
The deceased, who was a steady, respectable young man, joined the Army in 1915 and saw a lot of active service, in which he was twice wounded and once gassed.
He was married and much sympathy is extended towards his widow who is left with one child and other relatives.
Brave efforts to affect a rescue were made by two other young men, Harold Fletcher and Leonard John Wright.
An inquest was held on Thursday afternoon by Mr Neville G Moore (Coroner) when the facts elicited in evidence were as follows:
William Arthur Cull, stepfather, identified the body and stated deceased’s age was 26.
Dr. Devereux thought deceased was dead when brought to land; he stated that artificial respiration and other methods to restore animation were used without avail. Harold Fletcher, of 5, Gravel Walk, stated that at 2.15 on Wednesday, he met the deceased on King John’s Bridge, and they went to the stile and had a bathe.
Witness had often bathed with the deceased, who had only been able to swim this year and was really no swimmer.
Witness had the cramp and had to leave the water. Deceased with another young man named Walker went up stream to the Withies, where Leonard Wright and Reg Parsons were bathing.
Witness cautioned deceased against going but he went and swam across the river. After a rest on the other side he reentered the water but soon got into difficulties. A bladder, with which Wright and the other young man were playing was thrown towards him but he did not catch it.
Wright went to the deceased and got him nearly to the bank when Wright received a kick from the deceased and had to let go. Wright had to be helped out in an exhausted condition.
Deceased first sank whilst about in the middle of the river. Witness dived in hope of getting deceased out but the water was so deep that he could not reach him. He was under water about 20 minutes before he was brought out.
Witness sent for a boat and drags from Mr. Bathurst’s. Leonard John Wright, of the Railway Inn said he saw the deceased jump in and swim across the river. After resting about 5 minutes or so he started back, and witness saw he was in difficulties struggling in the middle of the river and had drifted about 10 yards down stream.
Witness went to him and after a struggle he became quiet until witness had brought him close to the bank, when he kicked witness in the stomach, and witness remembered nothing further until he found himself on the bank.
The Coroner found that it was an undoubted case of a sad accident and asked the members of the Press to take notice of the commendable bravery of the young men Fletcher and Wright: it required no little courage to go to a drowning person.
The witness Fletcher remarked that there was no means of saving life at the spot; if there had been only a plank it would have given him a better chance to reach deceased by diving. Inspector Durham said this was not a recognised public bathing place, though the owner, Mr. Rice, had raised no objection to its use.
As it was used, even a length of rope might be provided as a safeguard. The Coroner said he would communicate with the Town Clerk on the subject. Inspector Durham Durham observed that Mr. Bathurst gave valuable help in recovering the body and conveying it to the mortuary.
Research by Graham Adams 10 May 2013