Looking for BMBR. H. L. PARNELL Royal Field Artillery Relatives

Looking for his relatives so I can pass this on.



My Mum gave it to me this w/end. She dug it up in her allotement about 15 years ago and I came across it whilst looking for my Grandads pictures.

I think it would be quite interesting to find out about him as well as give the medal to his NoK. I think his Service No. is 858 or 658 or 558.

Cheers in advance for any help.
Andy

 

MIC attached.

 

Sadly, he didn't survive:

<table class="datatable" width="97%" align="center" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1"><tbody><tr id="tr_name"><th valign="top" width="30%" align="right">Name:</th> <td id="td_name">PARNELL, HERBERT LESLIE</td> </tr> <tr id="tr_initials"> <th valign="top" width="30%" align="right"> Initials:</th> <td id="td_initials">H L</td> </tr> <tr id="tr_nationality"> <th valign="top" width="30%" align="right"> Nationality:</th> <td id="td_nationality">United Kingdom</td> </tr> <tr id="tr_rank"> <th valign="top" width="30%" align="right"> Rank:</th> <td id="td_rank">Bombardier</td> </tr> <tr id="tr_regiment"> <th valign="top" width="30%" align="right"> Regiment/Service:</th> <td id="td_regiment">Royal Field Artillery</td> </tr> <tr id="tr_unittext"> <th valign="top" width="30%" align="right"> Unit Text:</th> <td id="td_unittext">4th Lowland Bde.</td> </tr> <!-- <tr> <td vAlign="top" align="left" width="30%">Force:</td> <td id="td_force"></td> </tr>--> <tr id="tr_age"> <th valign="top" width="30%" align="right"> Age:</th> <td id="td_age">19</td> </tr> <tr id="tr_death"> <th valign="top" width="30%" align="right"> Date of Death:</th> <td id="td_death">23/10/1915</td> </tr> <tr id="tr_service"> <th valign="top" width="30%" align="right"> Service No:</th> <td id="td_service">656</td> </tr> <tr id="tr_information"> <th valign="top" width="30%" align="right"> Additional information:</th> <td id="td_information">Son of Horace David Parnell, of 165, Sangley Rd., Catford, London.</td> </tr> <tr id="tr_type"> <th valign="top" width="30%" align="right"> Casualty Type:</th> <td id="td_type">Commonwealth War Dead</td> </tr> <tr id="tr_cemetery"> <th valign="top" width="30%" align="right"> Memorial:</th> <td id="td_cemetery">MIKRA MEMORIAL</td></tr></tbody></table><table class="noprint" width="100%"><tbody><tr id="tr_buttons"><td colspan="2" align="center">
</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

Hi
Heres his medal card as you can see he Drowned in 1915 theatre of war given as Egypt.
Regards
Verrieres

 

Cheers guys. His parents house is spookily close to where the medal was found.

Any ideas where to go now for a NoK ?

 

Local newspapers? However, you may find the family has faded away.

 

Will do, I'll try directory enquiries on that addy too.

Times like this I wish I was still a copper

Anymore tips or info greatly appreciated and I'll keep you posted.

I think I'll give it to the Retunda at Woolwich if I get no joy finding a NoK

I'll keep you posted

 

Hi,
He had an elder Brother Horace,(3yrs older),sister May (2yrs Older) and a younger sister Ivy(3+yrs younger).So long ago the sisters will have married and changed their names .Tricky!
Regards
Verrieres

 

Ok guys I've contacted the South London Press and they (The reporter) think they will run a story on it.

He has the link to the forum and this post so any help posted on here would be great

Cheers
Andy

 

Quick bump.

The South London Press rang me today and they are going to run a story in their paper regarding this.

If anyone has any info on his unit can you post it on this thread as I think they may put a link in the news article.

Cheers
Andy

 

Good result Andy - can you scan and post the article here in due course?

 

Definately. He's going to email me a link to the article in the paper and I've asked my sister in Downham to buy it

Anyone know of any who, what, why's and when's of The Royal Field Artillery in 4th Lowland Bde upto 1915 when this chap died.

Regards
Andy

 

This is where he is remembered

MIKRA MEMORIAL, GREECE.

Interesting he is remembered in Greece but died in Egypt
Any thoughts?

 

Cheers Owen

I think I'm correct in saying he died in Egypt probably near the Suez and was in one of these batteries:

4th Lowland (Howitzer) Brigade. Numbered CCLXII May 1916 and renumbered CCLXIII Sep 1916.
1/4th City of Glasgow (Howitzer) Bty. 04 Aug 1914 - 28 May 1916. Became A (Howitzer) Bty.
1/5th City of Glasgow (Howitzer) Bty. 04 Aug 1914 - 28 May 1916. Became B (Howitzer) Bty.

 

No worries Owen,

I've just spoke to a chap at The Royal Artillery Museum who told me the 4th Low Bde were a Territorial unit and it appears to be weird that someone from Catford would belong to a Territorial unit in Glasgow.

The conclusion was to get his records from Kew. He suggested he may have been at Gallipoli and was being evacuated as a casualty at the time of his death if there were patients with nurses on the Marquette.

Why is nothing simple in life

Cheers
Andy

 

SS Marquette had set off from Alexandria, Egypt on a routine mission to Salonika, Greece on October 19th, 1915. She was escorted for 4 days by the French Destroyer, "Tirailleur". On board were 22 officers and 588 other ranks of the 29th Division Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery with it's vehicles and animals. Also on board were 8 officers, 9 NCO's and 77 other ranks of the New Zealand Medical Corps, and the equipment and stores of No.1 New Zealand Stationary Hospital, including thirty-six nurses. In addition, SS Marquette had a ship's crew of 95, making a total of 741 persons on board. Her cargo included ammunition, horses and mules.

 

Andy,
It sounds like you are making good progress.
All the best.

Tom