Basil Parrott R.A. (Army Number 845951)

Hi All,

This soldier was awarded the MM for escape and evasion (Hong Kong) which was gazetted 10th November 1942. His family believe he served on Chindt 1. Is his tracer card available please.

Many thanks

Steve

 

Sorry it took so long - note slight difference in spelling of Parrot (Parrott)

Name: Basil Harold Parrot
Attestation Date: 8 May 1935
Attestation Place: Coventry
Regiment: Royal Artillery
Service Number: 845951

TD

 

I had me stopwatch on you TD. You're slipping.

 

I know - I had a couple of breathes and thats what slowed me down, and I also note my batteries need charging

TD

 

Thanks for getting that for me, it does give me a clue as to his service at the time of Longcloth.

 

You probably already know this, but one of the blokes that he escaped from Hong Kong with, John S Whitehead, wrote a book about their escape. It is called 'Escape To Fight On' and may have some detail about your man. If nothing else, the book's title is promising.

 

Thanks once again for your help JP. I have a copy of the book at home, but had not worked my way back to considering the Hong Kong part of his WW2 experience. The fact that the author calls him Danny threw me at first, but re-reading page 40 clinches the deal.

 

Hi Steve could this be your man from the
Coventry Evening Telegraph - Wednesday 19 April 1944

 

Thanks Mike. It certainly is my man.

 

Mike,

Can that image be enlarged at your end. It is readable, but only just from dragging it from the post.

Many thanks

Steve

 

Hi Steve,

Hope this works this is the page from the paper ?

 

Cheers Mike. Brilliant!!

 

I wonder if Coventry will mark his escape eighty years ago in 2021? Perhaps worth contacting the Coventry Evening Telegraph which is still in production, especially if he returned and passed away in the city. Contact via: Contact CoventryLive

 

Don't know if his unit details on the casualty lists helps any?

 

So he was 5 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment or 5th Heavy AA Regiment and part of their HQ, seconded to the Hong Kong and Singapore Artillery (HKSA). I think there are references to the HKSA here.

 

Thanks Gents. The family are fairly well aware of the Hong Kong side of the story and are looking to find out what he did next. Jitter Party's info has opened up a new avenue for them and the book he mentions is the key to any new details. I'm waiting to hear back from them.

 

Basil Parrott was my father. Today is his birthday - he would have been 107.
I have written two detailed accounts of his war service : 'Escape from Hong Kong' ; and 'With the Chindits'. I would be happy to share them.
Pamela Skinner , nee Parrott

 

Hi Pamela,

You may have already guessed, but this is Steve from the Chindit Society here. We exchanged emails in late 2020 about your father. I'm sure the rest of the forum would like to read about his exploits in Hong Kong and Burma if you would like to post them up here.

Nice to hear from you again.

Steve

 

Hi Steve, nice to connect with you. I am trying to attach my accounts of Dad's exploits. I am fairly sure of the details about Escape from Hong Kong. It was more difficult to research his experience in Burma - the timing falls between the 2 Chindit expeditions. I am struggling at the moment to find a way to attach the documents.

 

Hi Pamela,

You need to use the upload a File tab to the right of the post a reply tab. However, sometimes this does not allow Word document extensions, as most uploads tend to be photographs etc. It will allow pdf files if that is any help.