Author name: Adrian Smith

7th Training Squadron, Australian Flying Corps William Parkes, or ‘Billy’ as he was probably known, was born in mid-1892 to William and Salena Parkes, of North Creswick, Victoria, Australia. When declaring his mother to be his next of kin Billy stated her address to be Clunet Road, Creswick. Billy enlisted on 4 August 1915 at […]

53rd (Young Soldier) Battalion, Devonshire Regiment Donald Walter Parker was the youngest of three children born to Donald and Elizabeth Parker who lived in Forest Green having both been born locally. Donald was baptised at Inchbrook, Nailsworth on 23 December 1900, his father being a labourer. The family were living at Forest Green at the

16th Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) William Albert Parham was born in 1885 in the parish of St Aldates, Gloucester.. In 1907 he married Mary Ann (maiden name unknown) and the couple had five children. According to the 1911 Census the family lived at 2 Park Street, Gloucester and William’s occupation was shown to be ‘general

Labour Corps Francis (Frank) Howard Pargeter was the son of William Edward and Ada Blanch Pargeter and was one of their nine children recorded in the 1901 Census. He was born in Cheltenham in the second quarter of 1893. At the time of the 1911 Census Francis was living with his brother and wife in

2/8th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment Leonard Harold Pankhurst was born in 1897 in Allensmore, Hereford and was the son of John Smith Pankhurst and Mary Jane (née Preece), and Christened in Allensmore, on 6 June 1897. In his time, his father was a Wheelwright, Carpenter and Farmer. Leonard’s siblings were Mary Florence (1885), Beatrice Annie (1887),

Royal Navy – HMS Iron Duke Alfred Edward Dennis Palmer was born at Frampton-on-Severn on 25 November 1898. His father, Alfred E, was shown in the 1901 Census as being an insurance agent and he was married to Edith Caroline. At that time they lived at 28 The Street, Frampton-on-Severn. Alfred was their eldest child.

Royal Defence Corps Indications are that George Painter was a former regular soldier, who volunteered his services upon the outbreak of war and served on the home front. George Painter was born in Fairford in 1866, one of eight children born to George Painter (1838-1918) and his wife Eliza Jane, (née Kimber: 1843-1927). He spent

2nd Works Company, Duke of Edinburgh’s (Wiltshire Regiment) Donald Page was born at Bishop’s Cleeve in 1878 and was the son of William (1835-?) and Harriett Ann (née Mills; 1861-1883). William Page was a farmer and at the time of the 1891 Census the family lived at Pigeon House Farm and in 1901 they were

17th Battalion, Australian Infantry Percy James Penketh was born at Forest Lodge, Sydney in 1894 and was the son of James William and Eva Penketh of Esther Road, Balmoral Beach, Mosman, New South Wales (NSW), was one of three brothers to serve in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) in the Great War: only one survived.

10th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment Henry John Peart (probably known as Harry) was one of two sons born to Joseph Peart (who died in 1900) and his wife Sarah Jane (née Howell) who died in 1911. Harry was born at Over, Gloucester in 1882 and his brother, Albert in 1885. In January 1905 Harry married Emily

3rd Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment William Owen Pearce was one of nine children born to Thomas and Mary (formerly Davies). Thomas was born in Weston Super Mare and Mary in Llangoedmor, a village outside Cardigan. I have been unable to confirm a baptism but William was likely to have been born in 1878/79. At the 1881