John Parry was the son of Elizabeth and John Parry, Megs Lane. From the 1911 census John and Elizabeth had 7 children, 6 then living: John 18 a colliery labourer, David 17, Frank 15, Elizabeth Ann 13, Sarah Jane 11, and Edward 6.

He enlisted in Buckley and entered his first Theatre of War (France)  on the 2nd December 1915.

From Keith Shone

“Apparently was batman to a Major or Colonel in the 1st World War and went out from Camp for water and was never seen again. His family home was Megs Lane Cottage”

His military records state Missing between 31.7.17 and 4.8.17 presumed killed.

The 16th RWF war diary for the 31 July 1917, records that at 3.50am the battalion took part in a general attack on the German trenches. The enemy trenches were occupied and that hand-to-hand combat, mainly using the bayonet ensured for most of the day and night. The attack was broken off on 1t August and the battalion returned to their own lines. This suggests that the operation to secure the enemy trenches was a failure. The 16th RWF war diary for 1t August states: Casualties: Officers: 1 killed and 9 wounded. Other ranks: 42 killed, 13 missing*, 183 wounded. (*includes John Parry).

The 16th RWF commanding Officer summed up the operation as follows: The spirit of all ranks was excellent and the dash of the battalion in the attack on 31st July was beyond all expectation. The losses were unusually severe, but could not have been avoided, as even the advent of rain made the ground so soft and muddy, that many lives were thereby saved.  

John Parry was the cousin of Joseph Parry who died of wounds sustained near Ypres in 1915.