Casualty The Tank Museum is seeking imagery of Trooper Sidney Parker of the 1st Royal Tank Regiment. Parker served in the North African campaign and was killed in action 18.04.41, aged 17. His tank commander, Bert Rendell later recorded the events of that day in a post-war memoir, “During an early attack in the siege of Tobruk, I lost my driver. The following day a new lad was found for me. I took a liking to the lad - his name was `Piggy' Parker. He was a joker and, having found out that I knew a bit about boxing, any spare time we had as a crew, he never failed to challenge me by "Stick them up, Sarge, if you like to stand a chance!" This sense of fun was very infectious to us all. He was with me two months. If I had been on my toes, I might have realised that because of the sandstorm blowing, he may, like me, have partially opened his visor; but it never crossed my mind. We were in the thick of it with things when suddenly the tank stopped. I asked him what was wrong but there was no reply. I shouted again, but no reply. At the time it was very noisy and bullets were tapping on the sides. I jumped down and ran to the front of the tank and saw there was no hope. This lovely lad had been sniped. He must have known nothing about it. Gunfire was all around but there was no other way than to drag him out - a most difficult task - and lay him away from the tank; then jump in and reverse out of range. For over 50 years this boy bothers me. Sometimes I wake up and it has happened this very night. In the last ten years there has been no improvement. If I had the strength and the power of Our Lord, I would walk to his grave; then my troubles would be over.” Bert Rendell and Sidney Parker’s story will feature in a new Second World War exhibition opening in 2020. We know Sidney hailed from Ramsgate, Kent and was the son of Albert and Emily Parker but hold no photographs. If you can provide any assistance in this matter, please contact: registrar@tankmuseum.org or 01929 405096 ext 207 Thank you.
Good luck-All I have is a copy of the original regimental diary for 1941 which I assume the museum already have.
Evening, Just found this newspaper article about Pte SR Parker 1 RTR who died on 18 Apr 41. Interestingly, his age in the article is 22 years old whilst his headstone has him at 17 years old. Regards Bruneval
Name: Sidney Robert Parker Age: 17 Birth Date: abt 1924 Death Date: 18 Apr 1941 Cemetery: Tobruk War Cemetery Burial Country: Libya Father: Albert Edwin Parker Mother: Emily Isabella Parker Regimental Number: 7887268 Region or Memorial: Libya Unfortunately there are no family trees on Ancestry where there might have been a photograph TD
Thanet Advertiser 20th May 1941 Abert Edwin PARKER married Emily Isabella DUNN registered Thanet, Kent 2Q 1903 All PARKER births registered in Thanet, mother DUNN Percy E. born 5.11.1903 Albert William 2Q 1905 Clifford Stephen 3Q 1906 George F. 3Q 1911 Ernest G. 2Q 1913 Walter J. 2Q 1916 Sidney R. 1Q 1919 Horace S. 1Q 1923 Possibly : Elizabeth Dunn Parker born 20.9.1915 First name(s) SIDNEY R Last name PARKER Birth year 1919 Birth quarter 1 Registration month - Mother's maiden name Dunn District Thanet County Kent Country England Volume 2A Page 1394 Pte. Sidney Robert Parker 1Q 1919 - 18th April 1941 Age 22? Casualty
Another brother killed in action : 6412167 Lance Corporal Horace Stanley PARKER 2nd Battalion Hampshire Regiment 1923 - killed in action 24th September 1943 Salerno, Italy age 20 Casualty