George Parry was born in December 1893 at Oswestry, he was from a large family with 10 children, 8 of which survived. He had older brothers Charles Frank and William  with 3 younger sisters Mary, Alice and Ellen and a younger brother John. The family lived at 29 Roft Street – in 1901 their next door neighbour was Bernard Ledwith, brother of Sapper 62361 Austin Ledwith and Private 55174 Stanley Ledwith. George’s father and mother were John and Mary (nee Williams), his father was a house painter. George would take an apprenticeship with his father and also become a painter.

George enlisted in December 1915 at Oswestry, joining the 3 Bn King’s Shropshire Light Infantry as Private 19472, and transferring to 3 Bn North Staffordshire Regiment in July 1916. Both of these were reserve and training battalions. He went over to France, as a draft into 1 Bn North Staffs. (Prince of Wales) on 20 July 1916. (see also Private 28654 William Wilkinson)

George died at No. 2 Stationary Hospital at Abbeville from multiple shell wounds on 18 September 1916. He was a victim of accidental or friendly fire. There is no record of where or when exactly he was wounded but, in the period before his death during the first week of September, the battalion had been in action at Delville Wood and Guillemont. The battalion had suffered casualties of 221 – 3 officers and 49 ORs killed, 4 officers and 155 ORs wounded and 10 missing. George was buried in Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension. He is also commemorated at St Oswald’s Church, Oswestry.

Acknowledgements.

References and Sources

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