Henry George Parsons was born in 1880, in Weston Super Mare, Somerset, England.
His parents were George and Hannah Parsons.
Henry worked as a Stone mason, including as a Banker Mason, where he was dressing and shaping the stone.
Henry married Annie Amelia Hall in 1910.
During World War 1, Henry was in the East Yorkshire Regiment, 7th (Service) Battalion. He became a Sergeant; his Regimental number was 36614.
A Military Hospital record (Index number of admission T334823) shows that he received a gunshot wound to the head in France, and was transferred to the Sick Convoy on 31 March 1918. He went from the 51st Field Ambulance to the No.7 Ambulance Train.
The War Diary for the 7th Battalion shows that Henry was wounded during the German Spring Offensive in March 1918.
Transcribed from the War Diary for 25/3/1918:
“Enemy delivered heavy attacks on both flanks of the Bde, causing these troops to fall back, but 50th Bde held firm, though both flanks were exposed and seriously threatened. The Bde held on until nearly surrounded, and at 11pm they were compelled, owing to the situation, to fall back. ‘B’ Coy of [this 18th?] were the last to retire. During the retirement a portion of the 18th became detached. Brigadier General C Gatman took charge of this detachment, along with others belonging to the 10th W YORK R and DORSET R, at BEAUMONT. These men were formed into a composite Coy, and took up a position on high ground behind BEAUMONT, and held on until the next morning, when the enemy attacked the position. The retirement continued, the troops fell back on AUCHONVILLERS. The next night New Zealand troops came to the relief, The [position] of the Bds who had been cut off had orders to retire on MAILLY MAILLET, where they bivouacked in the wood behind the village. Next morning they marched back to SENLIS, where they found the remainder of the B7 had been in the line 24 hours in front of BOUZINCOURT, They rejoined the B7 in the line. On the morning of the 31st the B7 was ordered to attack an enemy position at 5:30 am. Rain was falling heavily as the B7 moved forward. The B7 reached its objective, but the troops on either flank were held up, and after holding our position for some time we were compelled to fall back to the position we had previously held. B7 relieved at night by 52nd Brigade, and moved back to billets in HENENCOURT, arriving about 1am. Casualties from 21st to 31st March were as follows: Officers 19 Other Ranks 400.”
In 1920-21, Henry was a member of the Clifton Rugby club, in Bristol.
In 1924, Henry and Annie emigrated to New Zealand with their two daughters.
The passenger list for the vessel Ionic includes:
Henry George Parsons 44 Stonecutter
Annie Amelia Parsons 44
Kathleen Parsons 12
Evelyn Parsons 11
The Ionic sailed from Southampton to Auckland, arriving 18 March 1924.
Headstone in the Karori Cemetery, Wellington, New Zealand.
The inscription reads:
1914 – 1918 WAR
36614 SGT
H G PARSONS
IMPERIAL FORCES
DIED 12.3.1948 AGED 68 YRS