Edward James Parrish

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Wed, 28/10/2015 - 13:43

First Name:

Edward

Middle Name:

James

Last Name:

Parrish

Date of Birth:

Sunday, August 7, 1887

Mother's Name:

Sarah Jane Parrish (nee Smith)

Father's Name:

Charles Parrish

Date Enlisted:

Thursday, October 5, 1916

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

49th Battalion

Company:

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Thursday, March 28, 1918

Place of Death:

France

Cause of Death:

Killed in action

Details:

Edward Parrish (Service No 3224) was born in Jamberoo, N.S.W.

He enlisted at the age of 33, when he was single and working as a dairy farmer in Gerringong, N.S.W. Edward had also served 18 months with 5th Light Horse Militia.

He embarked from Sydney on board HMAT A64 Demosthenes with 8th Reinforcements, 49th Battalion, on 23rd December 1916. The troops arrived in England on 3rd March 1917 when Edward was assigned to 3 Platoon, A Company, 49th Battalion, in France on 26th July 1917. On 5th January 1918, after serving on the Western Front, Edward was detached to the 1st Anzac Corps Bombing school in France for training. He returned to his unit on 24th January 1918.

On 21st March 1918, the Germans launched their attack to defeat the allies and a desperate defensive action was undertaken to stop the breakthrough. Edward was in a trench under heavy shell fire near the village of Albert, when, on 28th March, a shell exploded in the trench and Edward along with 9 or 10 others was killed.

Edward is buried in Sentis Communal Cemetery Extension (Special Memorial), actual grave unknown.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, PARRISH EDWARD JAMES