Capt. James Cecil Parke of the Prince of Wales Leinster Regiment

[JamesCecilParke]

Hi there i am trying to find out as much as i can on this man would anyone have any advice on where to look to try and track down what his war service

[sotonmate]

His service file is at the National Archives,Kew,under WO339/12507.It should have the main points of his service,though some of the files have been thinned down during the 1930s.I may have time to see the file next week,time permitting.

[museumtom]

Tell us what you know about him and see if we can help.

Tom.

[museumtom]

Also look in the Irish Times, August 1915. He is mentioned there. Use Irish Newspaper Archives online.

[JamesCecilParke]

Thanks for all of your help and interest, with regards to his military career i know the following: He was commissioned into the Prince of Wales Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians) in Sept 1914 as a Captain.

He served in Gallipoli in 1915 and was wounded (shot in the arm) at the hillside of Chauk Bair during a turkish bayonet charge on the morning of Aug 10th (he, his wound and the attack are mentioned on pg/section 85 of Major B Coopers - the 10th Irish Div in Gallipoli ). I know that after this he was sent to France to recieve treatment for his wounds and was promoted to major in 1917, in France.

I also found this - http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29696/supplements/7755/page.pdf

[jdoyle]

temp Major 18th Dec 1916

his cousin (first cousin once removed) via mothers side of the family

http://www.sinton-family-trees.com/ft_main.php?rin=399

the winning opponent in his 1908 Olympic Tennis match was interned in England

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19160116&id=_bUaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RUkEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5467,211431

[museumtom]

Here you go, from the Irish Times.

Lieutenant J C Parke.

A official telegram has been received stating that Lieutenant J C Parke, LL. B., solicitor of the Leinster regiment, in which he obtained a commission soon after the outbreak of war, has been wounded in action at the Dardanelles. Mr Parke is a native of Clones, and is a brother of Mr W A Parke, solicitor of that town. He has been Irish lawn tennis champion, singles, and he also won many other championship in that game. He was a representative of the British Isles in international matches in America and Australia. He was also a prominent figure in Rugby football. Educated at trinity College, Dublin, he was captain of the College team for a season, and for many years represented his country at centre three quarter in the international matches, being also honoured with the captaincy of the Irish team on several occasions.

[JamesCecilParke]

Thanks for that information tom i managed to find the article this morning after sifting through the archive, it adds a bit more to his life story as a soldier.

Thanks aswell John for your input,

Im still scouring the net and archives more as much information as i can find.

[jdoyle]

to add to the London Gazette entries you have

temp Lt January 1915, 6th Leinster Regt

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29084/pages/1989

temp Major Dec 1916

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29900/pages/509

temp Capt, temp Major 1917

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30242/supplements/8637

temp Major 1918, Essex Regt

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30760/supplements/7384

relinquishes rank of Major 1919

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31852/pages/4202

resigns commission 1920, 6th Essex

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31887/supplements/5202

[JamesCecilParke]

Thanks very much John thats some great stuff, its pretty much a mini map of his army career.

Would anyone know where to get a picture of him in uniform if possible ? Or be able to see if he wrote letters home etc ? or is there another forum for that stuff ?

[JamesCecilParke]

Anyone have any notion of when he transfered from the 6th Leinster Regt to the Essex (T.F) Regt. I can only guess that this was because he was wounded at Galliopli and thus went to france to serve with the T.F

Would be great if i could find this transfer in a document rather than just guessing.

I have also just discovered that he won the military cross for bravery however i cannot find any accounts of this in the london gazette any other ideas on where to look ?

Thanks !