PARKES Samuel
STONEBROOM SOLDIERS KILLED IN ACTION
Lance -Corporal Samuel Parkes , a member of The Sherwood Foresters, was killed in action “ somewhere in France” on June 12th. His mother, Mrs Elizabeth Parkes, who lives at 463 Stonebroom , along with a daughter , Mrs E. Dodd, has three sons in the service, and much sympathy has been extended in the sad loss sustained. Deceased was but 23 years of age and prior to enlisting was employed on the coke washer at the Morton Colliery. He joined the army on January 11th 1915 and went to the Front six months later , in the month of July. On 23rd October he was severely wounded in a shell explosion and buried in a dug out and for ten weeks lay in a critical condition in Netley Hospital suffering from shock. Later he spent six months in the Eastbourne Convalescent Hospital and returned to the Front on May 10th of this year. His death occurred on June 12th through the bursting of an enemy shell.
Sergt- Major W. L. Greaves wrote to the effect that Parkes was killed at 10 am on Whit Monday when in charge of a small body of men in the trenches. An enemy shell bursting killed three and wounded two, one of whom has died since. Parkes had no pain, death coming at once, and he was buried the same evening. “ I must say we are all sorry to lose him , and we can imagine what a sad blow to his dear ones at home. We share their sorrow”
A memorial service was held at the Morton Parish Church on Sunday , conducted by the Rector ( Canon Prior) and muffled peals were rung on the church bells.
Derbyshire Times: 1st July 1916 P8
The newspaper report and the citation have different ranks and army units but it is believed, after extensive searching, that this is the same person. Samuel Parkes could have been a lance-corporal in the Sherwood Foresters and after he was wounded returned to France as a private in the Lancashire Fusiliers. His family came from Staffordshire originally but when his father died, his mother moved to Stonebroom with her sons to live with her married daughter, Mrs Dodd.
If anyone can shed any light on the discrepancies, please let us know.