Commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial, Pas de Calais, France
Panel 10 & 11

Mr and Mrs William Parker, of 105 High-street-south, Rushden, have received no letter from their son Private G Parker, of the 2nd Battalion, Beds Regt. since five weeks ago, up to which time he used to write from the front once or twice a week. They communicated with the War Office last Saturday in consequence of the rumours prevalent in the town that he had been killed, and yesterday they received a reply to the effect that as far as is know he is still serving with his corps.

In spite of the report from the War Office, Mr and Mrs C. S. Hodson, of Rushden, have received the following letter from their son, Private E Hodson, of the 2nd Beds Regt., and we regret to say that this apparently confirms the rumour that Private Parker has been killed. Under date May 23rd he writes:-

"I have just received a letter from Bert (his brother) and he says he is slightly wounded and going on nicely. Our battalion has just had another bad smash up. We lost nine officers and about four hundred men in about half an hour. Poor old 'Blacky' Parker and Sergt. Fuller, of Wymington, are among the killed, and my pal is badly wounded. I got through without a scratch, but I had several very near shaves. One shell burst within half-a-yard of my head, and the flash burnt my ear, how it missed me I don't know. My luck was in. The night before I was snatching a nap when a Black Maria came over and half buried me and another fellow. If Hell is any worse than this, I hope I never go there."

Rushden Soldier Killed - Lance-Corpl GW Parker - A Victim of the War - A Patriotic Family - Father & Three Sons With the Colours

Lance-Corpl G W Parker (Rushden), 8339, of the 2nd Bedfordshires, has, we regret to state, fallen in action. He was one of the three soldier sons of Mr and Mrs William Parker, of 105, High-street-south, Rushden. An official intimation of Lance-Corpl Parker's death was received by the bereaved parents from the Infantry Officer, Warley, and the sad news Lord Kitchener conveyed the sympathy of the King and Queen to the parents. The letter stated that Lance-Corpl Parker was killed in action, the place not being stated, and that death took place on May 18th.

The deceased soldier has been in the army for nine years, prior to which he worked in the finishing department of Messrs. Cave's shoe factory, Rushden. He was in South Africa with his regiment when war broke out, and was brought home, managing to get a day or two's leave before proceeding to the front, and he spent the leave of absence at Rushden. Deceased, a single man, was 28 years of age.

Mr William Parker, the father of the deceased is in the National Reserves, and is now stationed at Peterborough.

Besides the deceased, Mr and Mrs Parker have two other soldier sons - Pte Herbert Parker, of the Irish Fusiliers, who is now at the front, and Pte Lawrence Parker, of the Northants Territorials, who is in training at the present time. The bereaved family will have the sympathy of the whole town in the loss they have sustained.