9th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (British Army)
Date Of Birth:
29/01/1898
Died:
09/09/1916 (Died of Wounds)
Age:
18
Summary
John Park was the son of James Wilson Park and Jane Park. John Park was born on 11th January 1898 in Orritor, Cookstown. They were a large farming family. Before the war John was employed by the Midland Railway Company in Moneymore as a clerk. John Park enlisted in Cookstown, joining the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Private John Park fought at the Battle of the Somme and ‘escaped without a wound.’ He was then moved to Belgium. On 8th September 1916 Private Park suffered severe shrapnel wounds to his back and abdomen and was so severely wounded that there was no hope of his recovery from the very start and he died the following day. He was just 18 years old.
Further Information
John Parke was the third son of James Wilson Parke and Mrs Jane Parke. James Parke married Jane Beatty in Magherafelt on 29th January 1885.
Both census listings spell the family name without the trailing ‘e’ but in the local newspapers, it is spelt Parke.
John Parke was born on 11th January 1898 in Orritor, Cookstown.
The 1901 census lists John as three years old, living with the family at house 15 in Tullycall, Orritor, County Tyrone. His father was a small farmer.
The 1911 census records John as 13 years old. He was still at school. They were a farming family, living at house 4 in Craigs, Orritor, County Tyrone.
Family: James Wilson Parke, Jane Parke, Andrew William Parke (born 13th January 1887), Mary Parke (born 20th December 1888, died 15th May 1889), Mary Jane Parke (born 26th August 1890), Jessie Parke (born 4th April 1893), Thomas James Parke (born 26th September 1895), John Parke (born 11th January 1898), Ellen Elizabeth Parke (born 2nd May 1900), Agnes Livena Parke (born 3rd June 1902), Joseph Parke (born 15th December 1904), Robert Parke (born 21st February 1907), David Parke (born 27th April 1908).
Before the war John was employed by the Midland Railway Company in Moneymore as a clerk.
1914
John Parke enlisted in Cookstown, joining the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
1916
Private John Parke fought at the Battle of the Somme and ‘escaped without a wound.’ He was then moved to Belgium.
On 8th September 1916 Private Parke suffered severe shrapnel wounds to his back and abdomen and was hurriedly removed to No. 2 Casualty Clearing Station at Bailleul. He was so severely wounded that there was no hope of his recovery from the very start.
Doctors and nurses in these stations were overwhelmed with work. Wounded soldiers were brought in constantly and most were forced to lie on their stretchers in the open awaiting the attention of overworked medical staff.
Private John Parke was serving with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he died of his wounds the following day on Saturday 9th September 1916. He was just 18 years old.
In a letter to John’s parents, Reverend James T. Hall, Presbyterian Chaplain at the Casualty Clearing Station describes his death and his funeral.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 23rd September 1916: Private John Parke
Official intimation has been received on Friday last by Mr James Wilson Parke, Craigs, Orritor, Cookstown, that his son, Private John Parke, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, had died in a Casualty Clearing Station in France on 10th September from wounds received in action the previous day. Private Parke, who was only eighteen years of age, was formerly a clerk in the Midland Railway company at Moneymore, and volunteered when the Ulster Division was formed, and went to the front with the first contingent of that Division. He took part in the great advance of 1st July and escaped without a wound. Rev James T Hall, Presbyterian Chaplain at the Casualty Clearing Station, in writing to his mother, says:-
‘It is with great sorrow that I now write to you concerning the death of your son. He was brought in early on Saturday morning with shrapnel wounds of the back and abdomen. He was so severely wounded that there was no hope of his recovery from the very start, though the doctors and nurses did everything in their power for him. I went in a couple of times to see him, but as he was practically unconscious, there was nothing I could do for him. This morning your son was buried. His body was placed in a coffin and the coffin, draped in the Union Jack, was taken on a military wagon, accompanied by an escort of Ulster Royal Army Medical Corps (R.A.M.C.) men from the Casualty Clearing Station, to the military cemetery. There lay his open grave. I conducted a funeral service. You will this see your son’s body was buried in a manner befitting the supreme sacrifice which he has made for God and Ulster. Your son’s grave will be marked by a cross on which will be inscribed his name, number, regiment, rank, and date and cause of death. Our soldier’s graves are most carefully protected and preserved and the cemetery, in which your boy’s body lies, is very beautiful, as it has been nicely laid out and planted with flowers and grass borders. The cemetery faces towards the sun rising, and I like to think of this God’s Acre as I most frequently see it with the sunshine of God’s peace and benediction falling across it. I can assure you of my deep sympathy with you in your great loss. You in Ulster have done well, and you have reason to be proud of the fact that you too have been privileged to share in the sufferings of this present time. Your boy has died the death of honour. He has given his life for others, following the example of Him who died for us. May God comfort and sustain you and yours in this time of loss and trial.’
The deceased’s brother, Thomas, enlisted a few weeks (ago) in the Royal Garrison Artillery.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 23rd September 1916:
PARKE – died on 10th September 1916, from wounds received in action in France. Private John Parke, 9th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, third son of James Wilson and Jane Parke, Craigs, Orritor, Cookstown. For King and Country.
‘As dawn swept over the trenches, you fell amidst shot and shell.
Our only grief, we were not there to give the last farewell.
For King and Country firm he stood, unknown to cowardly fears.
On the plains of France he fought and died, with the Ulster Volunteers.’
Deeply regretted by his sorrowing parents, sisters, brothers and other relatives.
In his will, John Parke left all to his mother, Mrs Jane Parke.
Last Will and Testament of Private John Parke - not dated
In the event of my death, I give the whole of my property and effects to my mother, Mrs Jane Parke, Craigs, Orritor, Cookstown, County Tyrone. Ireland. Signed 17565 Private John Parke, No 2 Company, 9th Inniskilling Fusiliers, 109th Brigade, Ulster Division.
Private Parke is buried in Bailleul Cemetery, France. A number of Casualty Clearing Stations were situated here during the war and the resulting cemetery is a large one.
Private Patrick Monaghan, from the Loup, died the same day and is buried just a few graves away in the same row.
A few weeks before John’s death, his brother, Thomas Parke, enlisted in the Royal Garrison Artillery. Thomas survived the war.
John Parke is commemorated on Cookstown Cenotaph and on Orritor Presbyterian Roll of Honour.
The CWGC record Private John Park as the son of Mr J W Park, of Orritor, Craigs, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone.
