PARKES, Joseph

Joseph Parkes was the son of William and Annie Parkes of 22 Bromley Street, Lye. He volunteered for the Worcester Territorials in April 1914 and went to the 1/7th Battalion. They crossed to France in March 1915 and fought on the Somme in 1916 and in the Third Battle of Ypres in 1917. He was transferred to the 3rd Battalion at some point in his service, probably after recovery from wounds. In 1918 this battalion faced the second German Spring offensive on the Lys. They were greatly outnumbered and were forced back by the enemy attack of the 9th April with heavy losses. Private Joseph Parkes was killed in action on the next day. He was only 19 years of age, despite his length of service. He is commemorated on the Ploegsteert, Lye and Wollescote and Lye church memorials.