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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

Famous Titanic Photo: newsvendor Ned Parfett kia 1918


domwalsh

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Neil, thanks for that.

Steve - the only photo of Ned in uniform is the one you can see here in the thread. As far as his MM and MID are concerned, I can only offer the following:

He had enlisted in the Royal Artillery in 1916, serving for a period as a dispatch rider before being assigned to reconnaissance duties. He was mentioned in dispatches and awarded the Military Medal for his gallant conduct during a series of missions.

After his death, the officer who recommended him for the award wrote to one his brothers: "On many occasions he accompanied me during severe shelling and I always placed the greatest confidence in him."

Thanks for your interest in my gallant great uncle. Gone but not forgotten...

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:poppy: A Great photo, with a very moving story :poppy:
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  • 3 weeks later...

Great uncle Ned seems to peer out of the newspapers almost every day amidst all the Titanic coverage. Also spotted this on a house in Belfast!

post-1778-0-83739300-1333475209.jpg

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For those without access behind the paywall, here is the piece:

Published at 12:01AM, April 7 2012

Dominic Walsh

It is one the most enduring images of the 20th century, indelibly linked to the maritime disaster that cost more than 1,500 lives and a century later still captures the public imagination.

But the picture of a newspaper boy on a London street corner holding a poster announcing the sinking of the Titanic hides another, more private tragedy. Six years later, that newsboy — my great-uncle Ned — was killed in France only a few days before the end of the First World War.

Edward John Parfett, who was 15 in the photograph, was born near Waterloo Station, the son of a scaffolder who had worked on the construction of Westminster Cathedral in the 1890s.

The picture was taken on April 16, the day after the Titanic’s sinking, outside Oceanic House in Cockspur Street, where the White Star Line had its offices. To judge by the bystanders alongside him, sales of the Evening News must have been brisk that day.

Although too young to join up when war came in 1914, two years later he answered the call of King and country and enlisted in the Royal Artillery. The story is told in the family that he served a period as a dispatch rider before being assigned to reconnaissance duties, working as a signaller under a forward observation officer.

In 1918, he was mentioned in dispatches for his gallant conduct and, although he did not know it when he died, he had been recommended for the Military Medal.

His officer, Lieutenant Percy Hunt, later wrote to Ned’s brother: “On many occasions he accompanied me during severe shelling and I always placed the greatest confidence in him.”

Ned, after whom my father was named, was one of four brothers from Cornwall Road, Waterloo, who donned Army uniform, but he was the only one to die. One served in the disastrous Dardanelles landings in 1915, surviving to become part of the army of occupation in Germany. Another emerged unscathed from the Somme, only to be wounded and gassed at the third battle of Ypres.

In October 1918 Ned was stationed at Verchain-Maugré, near Valenciennes, when he was given leave to return home which, as things turned out, would have meant he would have been in England when the Armistice was declared. But on October 29, when he was collecting a clean uniform for the journey home from the quartermaster’s stores, a shell dropped on the stores, killing Ned and two other soldiers — Gunner William Scott, a lad from Manchester, and Saddler Corporal Henry Strachan, a Scot who had married and moved to Plumstead.

The three men lie buried next to each other in Verchain British Military Cemetery.

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Great uncle Ned also features on a Titanic Brewery beermat! Anyone know how to reduce a pdf file so I can upload?

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THANK YOU for posting the picture and the wonderful but tragic story behind it ..A moment of refection is called for :thumbsup:

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Today seemed an appropriate time to move this thread to the Classics section.

Neil

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Neil - having the story of my great uncle Ned classified as a Classic Thread is a fitting tribute to a brave man. Heartfelt thanks. The image of Ned standing outside Oceanic House on this day 100 years ago still evokes powerful emotions

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  • 6 months later...

I was offline yesterday, but was able to pause for thought to remember the sacrifice of my great uncle Ned Parfett, the Titanic newsboy, who died 94 years ago. Never forgotten.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I know it would be a story worth getting published in Many National Newspapers worldwide. This is my first Post on the site and this Life,Photo,Story of that young Man reminds me of how fortunate i am and how we all must try to "remember them." Very famous picture of the Titanics Lost Souls and now all the more special after hearing more about your great Uncle. Thankyou.

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  • 3 months later...

I echo the feelings of the other posts here. The story is very moving and you must be very proud of Ned.

I tried my best to repair the crease mark from your precious photo.

Cheers

Yoshi

ObZ4in9.jpg

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  • 7 months later...

Belated (very!) thanks, Yoshi. Only just seen your posting and photo repairs. Much appreciated. Dom

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  • 4 weeks later...

Slightly belatedly, remembering my Great Uncle Ned, who died 95 years ago last week. Still remembered with fondness and pride

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Dom,

I've seen this thread pop up every now and then, felt I knew what it was about and left it at that. Today, though, I took the time to go through it all. Thank you for your perseverance and undying connection with Ned. It is a remarkable story, certainly tragic, but something about what he did and what you have done will make it live for ever.

All the best

Jonathan

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  • 5 months later...

Hi there, I hadn't noticed this thread before but found it when Googling Ned after seeing the following picture on Facebook - it's from a site which 'colours' historical photos:

10155389_573495979424097_839245103264205

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  • 5 months later...

Dom,

I don't know if you are still following this thread as it has been a while, but I just found this on line: http://www.britains-soldiers.com/www.britains-soldiers.coms/info.php?p=25

Item 62002 might be of particular interest?

S.

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Dom,

I don't know if you are still following this thread as it has been a while, but I just found this on line: http://www.britains-soldiers.com/www.britains-soldiers.coms/info.php?p=25

Item 62002 might be of particular interest?

S.

Thanks Simon. Might just snap it up for my dad (named Ned after his uncle) for his upcoming 90th birthday! Cheers. Dom

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  • 3 weeks later...

In fond memory of Ned Parfett on the anniversary of his death 96 years ago today. Never forgotten by his proud family

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In fond memory of Ned Parfett on the anniversary of his death 96 years ago today. Never forgotten by his proud family

Here's to Ned!

:poppy: :poppy: :poppy:

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