Pte 39279 David Parkes

• Age: 28
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• D.O.W Wednesday 21st March 1917
• Commemorated at: Avesnes-le- Comte Cc Ext
  Panel Ref: II.C.13

David was born in the September quarter of 1888, the son Thomas Parkes and his wife Sarah (nee Pearson) who married in St. Peter’s Church, Liverpool  on 29^th November 1875. His father is shown as a mariner. Both parents were born in Liverpool. In the early years of marriage the couple lived in court housing in Burlington Street.

The 1891 Census shows the family are living at 16 Laughton Road, Litherland. David is two years of age and lives with both parents and four siblings His father is a 45 year old seaman, whilst his mother is 32 years of age. His siblings are recorded as; Sarah E. aged 14, Margaret aged 12, Elizabeth aged 7 and Robert aged under 1 year.

By 1901 the family are living at 40 Akenside Street, Bootle. David is 13 and lives with his parents and brother Robert who is aged 10. His father is now 49 years of age and employed as a dock labourer, whilst his mother is 46 years of age.

At he time of the 1911 census the family are living at at 5 Norfolk Place, Seaforth. David is 22 and employed as a newsagent’s clerk, he lives with his parents and his brother Robert who is now aged 20 and employed as a labourer. His parents advise that they have been married 36 years and have had 8 children of whom 6 have survived. 

David married Sarah Woods in 1911 and their first child David Junior was born in 1912, He sadly died at four months old and was buried in Ford cemetery. Mary Catherine was born in 1914  and Thomas William was born 1916.

David enlisted in Liverpool and was serving with the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 39279 when he died of wounds at No.37 Casualty Clearing Station on 21st March 1917, aged 28.

He now rests at Avesnes Comte Communal Cemetery Extension in France. 

The village of Avesnes-le-Comte was for some time the VI Corps headquarters. The 37th and 30th Casualty Clearing Stations were there from April 1916, the 42nd in June 1916, and the 41st in January 1917. The communal cemetery contains 2 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, both made in April 1916. Thereafter, burials were made in the extension, which contains 333 graves, 4 of which are unidentified. Most of these were from the 37th CCS which stayed in the village until July 1917. The Extension also contains 4 Second World War burials. The Extension was designed by Charles Holden.

His daughter Mary was two years old when her father died, and son Thomas was under a year old.

David is commemorated on both the Bootle Civic Memorial and in St. James RC Church, Bootle.

His widow Sarah was still living in Akenside Street in 1939 with her daughter Mary.

Sarah never remarried, and died at the age of 92.

We currently have no further information on David Parkes, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.