PARSONS, Reuben

Reuben Parsons was born in Halesowen and lived in Cradley. He enlisted in the Army Service Corps as a Driver and in 1918 he was attached to the 55th Divisional Train. Servicing the armies was vitally important work but the troops were also in the front line for much of the time. At the start of October the Division was pursuing the German forces after the breaking of the Hindenburg Line. They occupied La Bassée near Bethune on the 2nd October but German resistance had not given way. In the fast moving Advance to Victory there were many casualties and one of these was Driver Reuben Parsons who died of wounds on the 4th October. He is buried in Choques Military Cemetery (IV B 7) and is commemorated on the Cradley and Halesowen Memorials.