Gunner John Parkin lived in Prescot with his family at 28 Grosvenor Road. He enlisted in the Royal Garrison Artillery, and had brothers serving in other regiments: Fred was in the Infantry, 55th Machine Gun Corps, Joseph in the 25th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, and George in 2nd Battalion South Wales Borderers. Their sister Beatrice was engaged to mutual friend Albert Edward Buckley, also from Prescot, serving in the South Lancashire Regiment.

 

Whilst stationed in India, John introduced football to Turkish Prisoners of War. The Royal Garrison Artillery was a branch of the Royal Artillery that manned coastal and mountain batteries, large units of guns and mortars, and so he wore a Royal Artillery cap badge and Royal Garrison Artillery shoulder titles, on display here.

 

Fred Parkin was killed in action on 13 March 18 aged 27, Joseph Parkin on 18 October 1917 aged 23, George Parkin on 15 October 1918 aged 19, and Albert Edward Buckley on 4 March 1915 aged 37.

 

John was the only one to survive. On his return home, he went back to work at British Insulated Cables; he was awarded the British War Medal.

 

Private A. E. Buckley’s British War Medal and Victory Medal were kept by the family and are shown here also.