William Parker

A Private with the 11th Battalion, William died on 23rd of March 1918 at the age of 23. 

William was born at Thorpe next Norwich on 19 July 1894, a son of Rufus and Violet Parker. He was baptised at Thorpe Saint Andrew on 4 November 1894. In 1901 his family lived at Chapel Lane, Thorpe, Norwich, and this was still their address in 1911 when William was a general labourer. 

On 23 May 1916 William married Elsie Gertrude Carver at Saint Margaret’s Church, Lowestoft. William was a baker and they both gave their address as 81 Seago Street. Later Elsie lived at 33 Old Nelson Street. 

William enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. He joined the Royal Fusiliers, service number 33136, and was posted to the 36th (Labour) Battalion and served in France with that battalion. This battalion became 105 Company Labour Corps in May 1917 and so William was transferred to that company and given service number 63183. Subsequently William was transferred to the Lancashire Fusiliers, service number 41257, and was posted to the 9th Battalion. The 9th Battalion was disbanded in France on 12 February 1918 and William was posted to the 11th Battalion and served with VII Platoon in B Company.  

In March 1918 the 11th Battalion were at Fremicourt. On 21 March a heavy enemy barrage was put down on the Corps front and the battalion were ordered to take up positions behind the Corps line south of the Bapaume to Cambrai Road. During the morning of 22 March there was an enemy bombardment on the Corps line and about 2.15 p.m. they attacked the Corps lines astride the Bapaume-Cambrai Road and broke through the Corps lines. During the day the battalion was not heavily engaged and patrols captured several prisoners, however one officer was killed and eight wounded, and 15 men were killed and 88 wounded. 

At 5.30 a.m. the enemy, who were massed in the Chavfours Wood Valley, attacked in force. A and B Companies were able to beat off this attack but the battalion on their left broke forcing these companies to retire to south of the Bapaume-Cambrai Road. At 7 a.m. the enemy attacked from Beaumetz and were held by B and C Companies, but the enemy had machine-gunners on high ground and turned the battalion’s right flank, Owing to heavy casualties the battalion were ordered to retire and join a line held by the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry 200 yards to their rear. Later, due to retirement of other units, they were ordered back to the Beugny Line and thence to Fremicourt and Bihucourt. Stragglers were collected and the battalion spent the night at Savoy Camp, Bienvillers. 

During 23 March the battalion’s casualties were:
Officers: two missing, three wounded
Other ranks: three killed 35 wounded

Eighty-eighty men, including William, were reported missing between 22 and 23 March. It was later concluded that William had been killed in action on, or since, 23 March.