Lest We Forget - Private Henry Parkinson

Private Henry Parkinson was born on October 25, 1878 in Teeswater, Ontario to John Parkinson and Jane Tindall Hodgson.  He was my 3rd cousin, once removed.  His father, John was from England and his mother was part of the large Hodgson clan from River Philip in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia.  They, with their 6 children, moved first to Teeswater, Ontario and finally to Portage la Prairie, Manitoba.

Henry, with his father and four brothers worked their prairie farm together and eventually moved to his own farm which he shared with his brother, Eleazer in Yorkson, Saskatchewan.

When World War One broke out, Henry was already 36 years old - much older than most enlistees.  However, on January 16th, 1916 he joined the Canadian Infantry, Saskatchewan Regiment, 46th Battalion.  This Battalion was subject of many books, including Pierre Burton's "Vimy" as it participated in many of the major battles of the war, including Arras,Ypres, Passchendale, Vimy Ridge, and Hill 70.  On his attestation papers, Henry is described as 5'7", fair with blue eyes and a Methodist.

It was at Droucourt-Queant, France on September 4, 1918 that Henry lost his life.  His remains were interred with full military honours in the Ligny-St. Flochel British Cemetery, Averdoingt, Pas de Clais France.  He is memorialised on Page 482 of the 1918 Volume of the First World War Book of Remembrance in the Chapel of Remembrance at the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa.  He was 42 years old when he was killed in action.. Flochel British Cemetery, Averdoingt, Pas de Clais France