Percy Parnham

Percy was the son of William and Alice Parnham (née Bryan or Poole Bryan) His father William was born in Whatton in the Vale, Nottinghamshire, in 1858, the son of Stephen and Eliza Parnham. His mother Alice was born in Basford in about 1865 (birth reg. Alice Poole Bryan), the daughter of Thomas and Frances Poole (née Bryan, m. Poole 1869, later Wakefield). William and Alice were married at Basford St Leodegarius on 10 April 1887 and had 12 children, four of whom died in infancy. Their surviving children, who were born in Basford between 1889 and 1905, were: Eliza Ann, Sarah Ellen, William, Percy b. 1896 (O/N/D Basford, mother's maiden name Poole), Arthur, James, Lily and Claude. Three of the four children who died in infancy were probably Thomas b/d 1888, Ernest b. 1895 d. 1896 and Frances Emma b. 1907 d. 1908. In 1891 William, a general labourer, and Alice, a lace mender, were living in Dob Alley, Basford, with their two daughters, Eliza and Sarah. They had moved to Park Cottages, 8 Park Lane, Basford, by 1901 where they were living with their six children Eliza, Sarah, William, Percy, Arthur and James. Also in the household was Thomas Wakefield, William's widowed father-in-law (d. 1903). William and Alice were living at 120 Park Lane, Basford, in 1911. In the household on the night of the census were their children Sarah (Ellen) a Swiss lace mender, William a coal miner hewer, Percy a brush hand (bleaching works), Arthur a baker's errand boy, James, Lily and Claude and their married daughter Eliza, her husband Horace Herbert Chilvers (b. Sawbridgeworth Herts m. 1909) and their daughter Alice (under 1 year). Although born in Hertfordshire, Horace Chilvers was living in Buwell with his parents in 1901. Percy's father probably died in 1916 (reg. J/A/S). The later CWGC record gave his mother's address as 120 Park Lane. Alice died in August 1935. Percy's brother William also served in the war. He attested on 21 February 1916 and transferred to the Army Reserve the following day. William was not mobilized until 25 May 1918 when he served in the South Staffordshire Regiment (45951 Private). He was demoblized in January 1919.

In 1911 he was a brush hand (bleaching works).

120 Park Lane, Basford. Enlisted Nottingham

Private Percy Parnham served with the 11th Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment. He died of wounds on 13th June 1917 and is buried in Wimereux Communal Cemetery (Grave Reference: II M 6). CWGC - History of Wimereux Communcal Cemetery (extract): 'Wimereux was the headquarters of the Queen Mary's Army Auxilliary Corps during the First World War and in 1919 it became the General Headquarters of the British Army. From October 1914 onwards, Boulogne and Wimereux formed an important hospital centre and until June 1918, the medical units at Wimereux used the communal cemetery for burials, the south-eastern half having been set aside for Commonwealth graves, although a few burial were also made among the civilian graves.' (www.cwgc.org)

CWGC incorrectly cites 23 as death age. His birth was registered O/N/D/1896. David Nunn Note: Family notices give his age as 21. CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'A noble sacrifice from his sorrowing brothers and sisters' Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 4 July 1917: ‘Parnham. Died of wounds, June 13th, Pte. P Parnham, Sherwood Foresters, age 21, the beloved son of Alice and late William Parnham, 120 Park-lane, Old Basford. I think I see his smiling face, as he bade his last good-bye, and left his home for ever in a distant land to die; but the hardest part is yet to come, when the heroes all return and I miss among the cheering crowds the face of my dear son. From his sorrowing mother.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 4 July 1917: ‘Parnham. Died of wounds, June 13th, Pte. P Parnham, Sherwood Foresters, age 21, 120 Park-lane, Old Basford. A loving brother, true and kind, he was to us in heart and mind, he always tried to do his best, and now he has gone to take his rest. . From his loving brothers and sisters.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his mother Alice was his sole legatee.