Mervyn Roy Parkin
From Our Contribution
 | |
 King's Park Honour walk Lovekin drive | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 23 Mar 1910 |
| Place of Birth | Palmyra, Western Australia |
| Death | 19 Apr 1941 |
| Place of Death | near Domokos, Greece |
| Age at Enlistment | 29 years, 10 months |
| Description | ; grey eyes ; sandy hair ; appendix scar |
| Occupation | Truck driver |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Roleystone, Western Austrtalia |
| Next of Kin | Father , Mr. A J H Parkin |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | WX1803 |
| Date of Enlistment | 4 Mar 1940 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 2/11th Australian Infantry Battalion |
| Military Movement | |
| 1st Departure from Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 20 Apr 1940 ‒ 19 May 1940 |
| Transport Details | HMT Y3 Nevasa Fremantle to El Kantana, Egypt |
| Transfers | |
| Journey Dates | 10 Apr 1941 ‒ 12 Apr 1941 |
| Transport Details | SS Pennland Alexandria, Egypt to Piraeus, Greece |
| Post War Details | |
| Fate | KIA Greece 19 Apr 1941 |
| Monument(s) | Kelmscott War Memorial |
| Australian War Memorial | Australian War Memorial |
| Medals |
1939-45 Star Africa Star Defence Medal War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45 |
Contents
Pre War
Private Mervyn Roy Parkin was born at Palmyra in 1910, the son of Arthur and Margaret Parkin of Palmyra and Roleystone, Western Australia. 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.
Mervyn attended Roleystone school and enjoyed playing cricket and football. After leaving school, he worked in surrounding orchards and then went gold prospecting with his brother Keith at Menzies.
War Service
He enlisted at Subiaco in March 1940 and was posted to the 2/11th Australian Infantry Battalion, which was the first Western Australian battalion raised for overseas service in World War 2. On 15 Mar 1940 Mervyn needed assistance from the Northam Camp Dressing Station after taking a reaction to an inoculation. Three days later the battalion left for Melbourne where they undertook Brigade level training before returning to Western Australia foir pre-embarkation leave. Mervyn embarked at Fremantle aboard HMT Y3 Nevasa on 15 Apr 1940, possibly on the same ship as his brother, and arrived at Katana on the Suez canal on 19 May 1940. After training in Palestine and Egypt, the battalion saw action at Bardia, Tobruk and Derna airfield beforte beign withdrawn to prepare to go to Greece.
After arriving in Alexandria from Amirya Egypt, on 10 Apr 1941, they boarded the SS Pennland and sailed that night for Athens, Greece where they arrived late on the 12th. They were attached to the 17th Australian Infantry Brigade. Their first movement was forward to Kalabaka on 14 Apr 1941 and then next day into defensive positions on the Peinos River. However ,they were ordered to withdraw before firing a shot until they were east of the Peinos River and then on 19 Apr 1941 to move further to the rear. While doing so the battalion and its transport came under regular attack by German fighter aircraft. Casualties for the day numbered 4 Killed in action and 11 wounded. Mervyn was one of those killed that day, he was 31 years of age.
Notes
His plaque is placed alongside that of his younger brother Sergeant Douglas Parkin of 2/3rd Australian Machine Gun Battalion and a relative Private Lionel Savage of 44th Australian Infantry Battalion on Lovekin drive in Kings Park.