PARKES, William Ernest

William Parkes was the son of William and Sarah Parkes of Halesowen and volunteered for the Worcester Territorials, probably before 1914, and served in the 1/7th Battalion. They went to France on the 31st March 1915, first to billets in Armentičres and then to the front line at Ploegsteert. It was not an active section of the line but patrols were frequent and shelling regular. Sergeant William Parkes was one of the first casualties of the Territorials and was killed in action on the 19th May. He was 23 years of age and is buried in Calvaire (Essex) Cemetery (IV B 5) and commemorated on the Halesowen Memorial.