Douglas Windsor Parkin
From Our Contribution
Doug centre of the three Photo AWM 018502 | |
King's Park memorial | |
Personal Information | |
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Date of Birth | 3 Aug 1917 |
Place of Birth | Fremantle, Western Australia |
Death | 16 Jun 1945 |
Place of Death | New Guinea |
Next of Kin | Father , Mr A Parkin |
Military Information | |
Reg Number | WX949 |
Date of Enlistment | 11 Nov 1939 |
Rank | Sergeant |
Unit/Formation | 2/3rd Australian Machine Gun Battalion |
Post War Details | |
Fate | Killed in action |
Monument(s) | Kelmscott War Memorial |
Australian War Memorial | Australian War Memorial |
Pre War
Douglas Windsor Parkin was born at Fremantle in 1917, the son of Arthur and Margaret Parkin of Palmyra and Roleystone. Altogether there were eight sons and two daughters in the family and all the brothers except one, who was in the police force, enlisted in either the army or the air force between November 1939 and January 1942. Douglas attended Roleystone school and enjoyed playing cricket and football.
After leaving school, Douglas worked at home and on several orchards in the area and later worked as a bakery cart driver.
War Service
Enlisted at the Northam camp.
Initially a member of the 2/11th Battalion but at some point was transferred to the 2/3 Machine Gun Battalion prior to going to New Guinea. The battalion was raised in South Australia with companies also coming from Victoria and Tasmania. D Company was raised in Western Australia with the battalion coming together at Fremantle in April 1940 before embarking for the Middle East where they arrived at Suez in mid-May. They fought the Vichy French in Palestine and were then recalled to Australia.
During their return, they were diverted to Sumatra and Batavia and suffered heavy losses. Some were able to return to Australia and form the nucleus of a new battalion, subsequently going into action in New Guinea. Sergeant Douglas Windsor Parkin, was killed in action at Mandy, New Guinea on 16 Jun 1945. He was 27 years of age.
His plaque is placed alongside that of his older brother Private Mervyn Parkin of 2/11 Battalion, and a relative, Private Lionel Savage of 44 Battalion.
Notes
External Links
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