Pte 58561 Samuel Parker

Samuel Parker was born in Warrington, in the March quarter of 1890. His parents, Samuel Parker and Elizabeth (nee Guest), were married in Warrington in 1889. His father was born in Bilston, Staffordshire, and his mother in Warrington. Samuel was the first born of eleven children, but tragically seven of them died. His surviving siblings were Alfred, Elizabeth, and Florrie. He was baptised on the 08th January at All Saints Church, Warrington, his father was an iron worker of 94 Hoyle Street.  

In 1891 the family is living at 14 Portland Street, Warrington. His father is aged 26, occupation is puddler (involved in iron manufacturing), his mother, Elizabeth, is aged 22, and Samuel is one year old. 
 
By 1901 they are at 44 James Street, now with four children. His father, is aged 36, has the same occupation, his mother is aged 33, Samuel is 11, Alfred 8, Elizabeth 5 and Florrie is 6 months old. 
 
In 1911 Samuel is at 36 James Street, Warrington with his parents and sisters Elizabeth 15, in a cotton factory, and Florrie 10 at school. His father, is aged 46, and is an iron worker, his mother, Elizabeth is aged 42. They advised that they had been married for 22 years, and have had 11 children, with just 4 having survived. Samuel is 21, employed as a wire drawer.   
 
He married Lily Flynn on the 05th April 1915 at St Elphin's Church, Warrington, he was a 25 years old wire weaver, of 11 Church Street. Lily was aged 22, 18 Greenhall Street, her father, Thomas, was an iron worker. They then lived at 16 Carlisle Street, Warrington. His son Samuel was born on the 11th April 1916, but it is not known whether Samuel ever saw him.  

Unfortunately, Samuel’s service record has not survived so the details are not known, but at some point he was transferred to the 18^th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment. 

By June 1917 the battalion was in the Dickebusch area of the Ypres salient.

The Battalion diary records that they were:

In huts, training and supplying cable trench working parties:   

Pte Samuel Parker is listed as killed in action on 20^th June 1917, aged 27. 

He now rests at Railway Dugouts Burial Ground, Zillebeke, Flanders.

Lily’s brother Thomas also died as reported in the St. Helens Examiner on Saturday 25th May 1918; 

PRIVATE J. FLYNN. 

Private James Flynn, Machine Gun Corps, son of Mrs. Flynn, 16, Carlisle-street, is in hospital in France suffering from fever. Private Flynn, who is 20 years of age, enlisted in August, 1917, and was drafted abroad in January of this year. He was formerly employed by the Pearson and Knowles Coal and Iron Co., Ltd. Private Flynn's brother, Private Thomas Flynn, South Lancashire Regiment, has been killed in action, and a brother-in-law, Private Samuel Parker, King's Liverpool Regiment, has also been killed. He has two uncles serving, Corporal J. Peel, Machine Gun Corps, in France, and Sergeant William Savage, South Lancashire Regiment, also in France. 

He earned his two medals. 

Samuel’s effects, Army Pay of £1, 15s, 2d,  a£4 War Gratuity and pension of 18/9 pw went to his widow Lily, 23 Earl Street, Warrington. 

On the 1921 Census his parents were still at 36 James St. His father is aged 58, and is an iron and steel worker, his mother, Elizabeth, is aged 52, with married Florrie Rowland 20. 

Lily remarried in 1922, to Thomas Javier Brumbell, a 23 year old wheel dresser, living with his parents at 32 Earl Street in 1921.