Private 24242 James Parker

Killed in Action Salonika on Saturday, 7th October 1916, age 24.
Buried in Grave A. 56. at Karasouli Military Cemetery, Greece.

13th Bn., Manchester Regiment. 66th Brigade of 22nd Division.

Son of Mr and Mrs James Parker, of 86, Bell Green Lane, Higher Ince, Wigan. Native of Staffs.
Born: Tipton, Enlisted: Wigan, Resident: Lower Ince, Wigan.

First landed France & Flanders, 7th September 1915.
Medal entitlement: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives did not survive.

Not commemorated on any Tipton memorial.
Commemorated here because identified as Tipton on 'Soldiers Died in the Great War'.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/623690/

Genealogical Data

1901 Census
18 Canal Street, Tipton, Staffs.
James Parker (35, Labourer in Iron Works, born Tipton), his wife Mary Ann (35, born Tenbury), and their 3 children: Emma (14, Tailoress, born Gornal), James (8, born Tipton), and Alice (2 months, born Tipton).

1911 Census
32 Belle Green Lane, Ince-in-Makerfield, Wigan, Lancs.
James Parker (44, Blast Furnaceman, born Tipton), his wife Mary Ann (44, born Tenbury), and their 3 surviving children of 8: Emma (24, Cotton Spinner, born Gornal), James (18, Labourer, born Tipton), and Alice (10, born Tipton).

Personal Data

After James's death, his outstanding army pay and allowances amounted to £4/9/3d (4 pounds, 9 shillings and 3 pence); this was paid to his father and sole legatee, James, in May 1917. His War Gratuity was £6/0/0d (6 pounds exactly), this was also paid to his father in October 1919. The value of the War Gratuity suggests that James had enlisted in approximately May 1915.

Application was made for a Dependant's Pension by his sister, Miss Emma Parker of 88 Bell Green Lance, Ince, near Wigan. No Pension was awarded, but an unspecified gratuity is recorded.

Action resulting in his death

James enlisted with the 13th Battalion, Manchester Regiment (13/Manc) which was formed in September 1914 and became 1 of the 12 battalions constituting 22nd Division. They landed in France in September 1915, but in October moved to Marseilles and embarked for Salonika.

The initial aim of the Allies was to rescue the Serbian Army that was being driven southwards by the Central Powers. This failed as, after a brief campaign in severe winter conditions, Bulgarian troops drove the Anglo-French force back towards the Mediterranean coast. Britain advised withdrawal but France, Russia and Italy disagreed, so Salonika was prepared for defence and another advance was made in 1916.

Little else was gained by the Allies for the next two years as the Bulgarians held the vital ground on the mountain tops inland. Finally, an Allied offensive in September 1918 led to a Serbian breakthrough; the enemy forces crumbled and Bulgaria surrendered to the Allies on 30th September 1918.

Conditions in Salonika were often appalling. In November 1915 blizzards and dense fog, but during summer 1916 soaring temperatures with disease becoming widespread. In Salonika for every man killed in battle, three died of malaria, influenza or other diseases.

After arriving in Salonika, the 22nd Division was used as labour, building a fortified defensive-line surrounding the port city of Salonika. They did not have move north, into the fighting zone, until April or May 1916, having worked very hard throughout the bitter winter. After an initial flurry of action, 22nd Division settled down to a static role, enlivened by the battles of: Horseshoe Hill (August 10th–18th 1916), and Machukovo (September 13th–14th).

In October 1916, 13/Manc were in the front-line trenches near Reselli, about 12 miles south-west of the southern tip of Lake Doiran. This was adjacent to the Allied-held hill Piton Boise which was opposite a 90 degree turn in the enemy lines called The Nose. The 13/Manc were mainly improving their trenches and patrolling in No-Man’s Land.

The 13/Manc War Diary for 7th October records: “Piton Boise shelled with shrapnel from 17.30 – 18.00 hours causing casualties to the Day Garrison as follows: Killed: 2 Other Ranks, Wounded: 3 Other Ranks.”

The 2 men killed were James Parker, and Oldham man Robert Mitchell. Both men were buried in a cemetery started by the 13/Manc near Reselli, but were exhumed and re-buried in Karasouli Military Cemetery in April 1922.

Newspaper Cuttings

None.