Lionel A Parker

Lionel Albert Parker

Pte Lionel Parker was a member of the 21st Battalion CEF Machine Gun Section. Above is a banner that his comrades made after the war as a souvenir of one of their many reunions. Below are photos of some of the members of that section.

Above are two photos of Pte Parker with his friend, Pte Charles Tait, 59950, also of the 21st Battalion. Lionel Parker is on the right in both photos.

The above photo was taken during one of his hospital stays when wounded. He is in the center of the second row, with the X marked on his sling.

Below are 2 photos taken at West Sandling Camp in England, and one would assume that this would be the members of his Platoon.

The photos and information have been made available by Lionel Parker's grandson, Doug Parker and reproduced here with his permission.

Summary of Service Record


May 5, 1896	Born at Bath England Note that the Attestation Papers record the date as May 15, 1896, but his birth certificate records May 5^th as the correct day.
Nov 6, 1914	Attested into the 21^st Battalion at Kingston Ontario Ø Number 59773 (temporary number 796) Ø Next of kin given as (Mrs Parker) mother of 70 Tarry Road, Saltley, Birmingham England o Address later changed to Charlotte Pitt Cottage, Benwell, Newcastle on Tyne, England o A note was later added to also notify Mrs ER Farrell of RR #2 Ripley Ontario Ø Previous occupation given as laborer o Later stated to be “Gardener”, employed by Jacob Branch, Bowmanville Ontario Ø No previous military experience given Ø Religion given as Wesleyan Ø Placed in “G” Company o Later transferred to the Machine Gun Section
May 6, 1915	Embarked the RMS Metagama at Montreal for England
May 15, 1915	Disembarked at Devonport England and proceeded to West Sandling Camp, near Hythe
Sep 14, 1915	Embarked at Folkstone for France
Sep 15, 1915	Disembarked at Boulogne France
Mar 16, 1916	While on a work party at Dickebusch received a gunshot wound Admitted to No 2 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) with a gunshot wound to left shoulder and chest Transferred to No 26 General Hospital via No 12 train
Apr 10, 1916	Invalided to England aboard the HS Dieppe and posted to CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Center)
Apr 11, 1916	Admitted to No 15 Northern General Hospital at Leicester
Apr 19, 1916	Transferred to Military hospital at Shorncliffe
Jun 13, 1916	Transferred to Woodcote Convalescent Hospital at Epsom
Jul 18, 1916	Released from hospital SOS (Struck Off Strength) CCAC on transfer to 39^th Battalion (fit for duty)
Aug 19, 1916	Granted permission to marry – Bride’s name Eliza W Higgs
Sep 11, 1916	SOS 39^th Battalion on transfer to 21^st Battalion and reverts to rank of Pte on arrival at CBD (Canadian Base Depot) Note: I could find no mention of a promotion prior to this date
Sep 17, 1916	Appointed to rank of Lance Corporal
Oct 1, 1916	Left CBD for 2^nd Canadian Entrenching Battalion
Oct 4, 1916	Joined the 2^nd Canadian Entrenching Battalion
Oct 5, 1916	Left 2^nd Entrenching Battalion to join 21^st Battalion
Oct 6, 1916	Joined the 21^st Battalion in the field
Apr 9, 1917	Wounded in attack at Vimy Ridge Admitted to Field Ambulance with a gunshot wound to left arm
Apr 11, 1917	Admitted to No 2 Australian General Hospital at Wimereux with gunshot wound
Apr 12, 1917	SOS to EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship St Patrick
Apr 14, 1917	Transferred to 1^st West General Hospital, Hemingford St, Liverpool
Apr 19, 1917	Hemorrhaged severely and tourniquet had to be applied to stop bleeding. Required surgery to repair.
Aug 21, 1917	Transferred to Woodcote Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Epsom
Oct 2, 1917	Transferred to Canadian Military Hospital at Kirkdale
Oct 17, 1917	Discharged from hospital and invalided to Canada aboard the SS Araguaya, embarked at Liverpool
Oct 25, 1917	TOS MD #3 (Military District No 3) at Kingston Ontario and admitted to Convalescent Hospital
Nov 3, 1917	Admitted for treatment to Queen’s Military Hospital, Kingston, and treated as an outpatient
Dec 1, 1917	Admitted to Queen’s Military Hospital and treated as an inpatient
Dec 20, 1917	Released from hospital and treated as an outpatient
Jan 4, 1918	Admitted to Queen’s Military Hospital and treated as an inpatient
Jan 31, 1918	Released from hospital and treated as an outpatient
Feb 5, 1918	Discharged from Queen’s Military Hospital care
Jan 29, 1918	Medical Board at Kingston Ontario records the following: Ø Wounded twice, March 16, 1916 (chest) and April 9, 1917 (arm) Ø He cannot straighten his left arm at elbow beyond 90 Deg Ø Complains of tingling sensations in left thumb Ø Cannot close ring and little finger of left hand into fist Ø Both bones in left arm were broken by bullet wounds Ø Grip in left hand is about 80% of normal Ø Disability from both wounds is permanent Ø Board recommends discharge as medically unfit
Feb 15, 1918	Discharged at Kingston Ontario Ø Proposed address on discharge – Box 189 Bowmanville Ontario Ø Permanent pension of $300.00 awarded
	Pte Lionel A Parker 59773 Bowmanville Cemetery Bowmanville ON