Charles Edward Parkin

Charles Edward Parkin

Ancestry.com
Personal Information
Date of Birth	c Jan 1898
Place of Birth	Rockingham, Western Australia
Death	26 May 1965, aged 68
Place of Death	Kalamunda, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	17 years 10 months - claimed to be 21 years, 10 months
Description	5'2½" (1.59m) tall ; 120 lbs 54.431 kg ; fresh complexion ; grey eyes ; brown hair
Occupation	Boilermaker
Religion	Church of England
Address	Armadale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Sister , Miss Beatrice Parkin
Military Information
Reg Number	9493
Date of Enlistment	17 Sep 1915
Rank	Driver
Unit/Formation	6th Field Artillery Brigade
Date of Embarkation	22 Nov 1915 ‒ 21 Dec 1915
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A34 Persic
Date of Return	4 Aug 1919 ‒ 27 Sep 1919
Ship Returned On	SS Main
Fate	Returned to Australia
Monument	Armadale War Memorial (West Armadale panel) Armadale and Districts Roll of Honour]]
Medals	1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

Parents lived in Armadale. 1916 father was a timber inspector.

War Service

17 years old, he had put his age up by 4 years at enlistment and declared both parents to be dead. Charles spent much of the war suffering with influenza and bronchitis.

On arrival in Egypt Charles was attached to the 6th Field Artillery Brigade at Towra, before having his first stint in 2nd Australian General Hospital in Ghezerich from 17 - 31 Jan 1916 with Influenza. On 22 Feb 1916 he was admitted to the 1st Australian Stationary Hospital with haemorrhoids, rejoining his unit on 16 Mar 1916.

On recovery he was posted to the 16th Battery and travelled to France with them on the HMT Eboe from Alexandria on the 17th March, arriving in Marseilles on 23 Mar 1916. On 31 May and 1 Jun 1916 he was treated by the 7th Field Ambulance for Influenza.

Charles entered the 17th Casualty Clearing Station on 9 Oct 1916 with influenza, and was to rejoin his unit on 19 Oct 1916. Again on 23 Dec 1916 he needed medical treatment, this time for asthma, rejoining his unit on 31 Dec 1916, and then on 7 Jan 1917 he was seen again by the Anzac Corps Rest Station who 10 days later passed him to the 33rd Casualty Clearing Station. On 20 Jan 1917 he was admitted to the 5th General Hospital in Rouen with bronchitis). Finally on 28 Jan 1917 he was embarked on the HMAT A69 Warilda at Le Havre for England. In England he was admitted to the 1st London General Hospital before being granted furlough from 27 Mar to 11 Apr 1917.

After his leave he was transferred to Larkhill from Perham Downs and then to Weymouth where he became a permanent member of No. 2 Command Depot and was given the temporary rank of Corporal. He remained there until 12 Jun 1919 when he was moved to Tidworth, reverting to Driver.

While in the UK, in September 1918 he had sought discharge from his duties as a Military Policemen to undertake munitions work, but was refused. On his return to Australia he was discharged by the 5th Military District on 27 Nov 1919.

Post War

Electoral Roll entries - 1925 soldier at 10 Forbes street, North Perth; 1943 garage employee at 45 Sasse avenue, Leedervile with Ivy Grace (sister?); 1949 alone at 45 Sasse street; 1954 with Edwina May at 3, Second avenue, South Perth, 1958 - 1963 a painter at 11 Talbot avenue, South Perth; 1963 no occupation, both at 9 Pauline avenue, Kalamunda.

Notes

Parents not named as NOK as Parkin Junior enlists giving false age and claiming both parents were dead. Father (care of Post Office Armadale) writes on 18 Dec 1915 pointing out his son's correct age, and asking that if he has given his boarding house mistress Mrs M McGlew as his NOK, the Army should not provide her with his allotment. By the time Charles was discharged he has tattoos on both arms.

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Virtual War Memorial