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Parry, William

William (Will) Parry was born in Flint on 6th April, 1898 and baptised at St Mary’s Parish Church on 20th April, 1898. He was the fourth of six children to John Parry and Mary Hannah (Parry). He was a brother to Driver John Parry who also died in the war and has his own page here.

He was living at 46, Church Street when enlisted in Flint but it’s not known exactly when. His regiment was posted to Gallipoli and landed at Suvla Bay on 9th August, 1915.

Will sent four letters home that year which were published in the County Herald.

“GIVING THE TURKS SOMETHING TO GO ON WITH”

(17th September 1915)

Private W Parry, whose home is in Church Street, Flint, and who is a member of the 1/5th Battalion of the RWF, has written under date of 24th August to his mother. He states that the men of the Battalion had all landed safe in the trenches on the Gallipoli land, and that they had been in action, giving the Turks something to go on with. He was very sorry they had lost their Colonel and Major; but they both died bravely. They had had some of the men of the Battalion wounded and some killed. Jack and Bob Hayes and Gwesyn Williams had been wounded. They were all having a very rough but fine time. They were getting plenty of biscuits and jam. It was fine fighting. There was not much going on at present. They had been in the trenches six days without a rest or a wash. The people of Flint should see them, and he was sure they would be bad through laughing. All the boys were in the best of spirits. They came out of the firing line on the 23rd August for a rest behind the firing line. The weather was very hot, but it was cold at night. They got about three hours’ sleep each night, and in single hours. They all had some fun dodging the shells and bullets. He concludes his letter by reminding his mother that he had received the “County Herald.”

“GLAD TO GET INTO THE FIRING LINE AGAIN”

(1st October 1915)

Private William Parry, of the 1/5th Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, and whose parents reside in Church Street, writing from one of the Red Cross hospitals in the East states that he is recovering from dysentery, and adds:- “I am going to a rest camp for a few days, and then I will be glad to get back into the firing line again. We are doing well in the firing line, and I hope it won’t be long before the war is finished.” Private Parry has been in the fighting at Gallipoli.

“WANTS TO BE WITH THE OLD BOYS AGAIN”

(22nd October 1915)

Private W Parry, whose home is at 46, Church Street, and who is with the 1/5th Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers at the Dardanelles, has written to his parents stating that the weather was becoming very cold there and all the men were feeling it very much since the hot weather. The natives said that the weather was very cold during the winter. He was very lucky to be out of the trenches, but he pitied the chaps who were in the trenches during the cold nights. It was very cold where he slept, which was on the office floor. The offices comprised large wooden huts. He was still at the signalling station, where he had passed as a qualified operator; and he was going to the Headquarters on a regular job. At the time of writing he was about 60 miles from the firing line, but he would much rather be with the old boys. Although he was so far from the firing line he was doing his duty, and he was prepared to go back to the trenches. If the fighting were not over there before Christmas he would go back to the trenches where the boys were. He had met Will Mostyn, who was in one of the Kitchener Battalions. He asked his parents to be sure to send him the “County Herald” weekly.

“ALIVE AND KICKING”

(5th November 1915)

Private Will Parry, of the Signalling Company of the Royal Engineers (sic) in Gallipoli, writing under date of 14th October, reminds those at home that he is still alive and kicking, and that he was getting along finely with his work. He had been acting as a dispatch Rider in doing the work of a soldier who had been ill but was getting better. They had some fine times in his tent, for there was an Australian, a New Zealander, a Scottish Lad, a Londoner, and a Welsh kid, and in the adjoining tent there were two Frenchmen who only drank wine. There was nothing much going on in the firing line at present.

The regiment was evacuated from Gallipoli in December that year and moved to Egypt where he was accidentally killed on 22nd October, 1918. Unfortunately there is no known record of the circumstances surrounding his death.

He was buried in Ramleh War Cemetery, Israel (Plot BB, Grave 64).

He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal and is remembered on three war memorials – Flint Town, St Mary’s Parish Church, Flint and Oddfellows Hall, Flint. He is also remembered on his parent’s headstone in Overleigh Cemetery, Chester (Grave R3738) and is commemorated on the North Wales Heroes’ Memorial Arch, Bangor.

On 18th June, 1919 Will’s mother was awarded a total sum of £51 15s 11d from the Army, which included a War Gratuity of £23 10s 0d.

IN MEMORIUM

In sad and cherished 21st Birthday remembrance (April 6th).

Not dead to me, I love him dear,
Not lost but gone before,
He lives with me in memory still,
And will for evermore.

Sadly missed by his loving Father and Mother.
64, Brook Street, Chester.
(County Herald 4th April, 1919)

His cheerful smile and happy face
Are pleasant to recall,
He had a kindly word for each,
And died beloved by all.

Never forgotten by his Pals J and E Griffiths, Buckley.
(County Herald 4th April, 1919)

He was a brother, and an upright son,
Who always thought a lot of us,
And as long as life and memory last
Will ever be dear to us.

Friends may think that we forget him,
When at times we’re apt to smile,
Little knowing what grief is hidden
Beneath the surface all the while.

Never forgotten by his loving Sisters, Amy, Jennie and Mair.
64, Brook Street, Chester.
(County Herald 4th April, 1919)

Bravely you did your duty,
Nobly you fought and fell,
But the sorrow of those who mourn you
Only aching hearts can tell.

Too dearly loved to be forgotten.

Sadly missed by his loving sister Phyllis, Brother-in-law Walter, and little Neville.
11, Chester Street, Flint.
(County Herald 4th April, 1919)

We miss his smiling face and cheering ways.

Mrs Turnock and Family,
23, Corporation Terrace, Higham Ferrers.
(County Herald 24th October, 1919)

To know him was to love him.

Mrs Bateson and Family,
Forresters Terrace, Royston.
(County Herald 24th October, 1919)

In sad but loving memory of Signaller W Parry (Our Willie), and Driver J Parry (Our Johnnie).

Gone from amongst us; Oh how we miss them,
Loving you dearly your memory we’ll keep.
Never while life lasts will we forget them,
Dear to our hearts is the place where they sleep.

Ever remembered and sadly missed by their Father and Mother, and Sisters Amy, Jennie and Mair.
64, Brook Street, Chester.
(County Herald 24th October, 1919)

To-day recalls sad memories
Of two loved ones called to rest,
And those that think of them to-day
Are those that loved them best.

Never forgotten and sadly missed by their loving Sister Phyllis, Brother in law Walter, and little Neville.
11, Chester Street, Flint.
(County Herald 24th October, 1919)

Sweet memories are oft recalled,
With many a silent thought.

Never forgotten by Mrs Turnock and Family.
23, Corporation Terrace, Higham Ferrers, Northants.
(County Herald 22nd October, 1920)

Time may heal a broken heart,
Time may make the wound less sore,
But time can never stop the longing
For our loved ones gone before.

Sadly missed by Father, Mother and Sister Mair.
64, Brook Street, Chester.
(County Herald 22nd October, 1920)

Sleep on dear brothers, and take your rest,
Your lives for your country, you nobly gave.
No loved one stood near you to bid you good-bye,
But safe in God’s keeping now you lie.

Sadly missed and never forgotten by their loving Sister Phyllis, Brother-in-law Walter, and little Neville.
Mona House, Mumforth Street, Flint.
(County Herald 22nd October, 1920)

Dear brothers, your noble sacrifice was great,
Your love, ambition, all at stake;
What we have lost Heaven has gained,
Two of the best this world contained.

Fondly remembered by their loving Sisters, Amy and Jennie.
64, Brook Street, Chester.
(County Herald 22nd October, 1920)

In the old home you are fondly remembered,
Loving thoughts cling round your dear names,
Your vacant places remain to us
That none can ever fill.

Never forgotten by their loving Father and Mother and Sisters, Jennie and Mair.
“Kirklea,” Mumforth Street, Flint.
(County Herald 21st October, 1921)

It is lonely here without you, dear brothers,
And sad the weary way,
Nor is the world the same to us
Since God called two away.
God called them home, it was His will,
But in our hearts they liveth still.

Ever fondly remembered by their loving Sister Phyllis, Brother-in-law Walter, little Neville and Olive.
“Kirklea,” Mumforth Street, Flint.
(County Herald 21st October, 1921)

With aching hearts we shook their hands,
Tears glistening in our eyes;
We kissed their cheeks, but little thought
It was our last good-bye.
Two of the best.

Deeply missed by their affectionate Sister Amy.
44, Westgate Street, Chester.
(County Herald 21st October, 1921)

Cherished birthday memories of our dear Brother Willie (April 6th).

We loved you in life, he is dear to us still,
But in grief we must bend to God’s Holy Will;
We mourn for him in silence
But with no outward show,
For the heart that mourns sincerely
Beats silently and low.
Love’s last gift – remembrance.

Sadly missed by Sisters Amy, Phyllis and Jenny.
(County Herald 5th April, 1935)

Death often comes to let us know,
We love more deeply than we show;
But love in death should let us see,
What love in life should always be.
Sadly missed by All at Home.

50, Harrington Street, Chester.
(County Herald 5th April, 1935)

In cherished birthday memory of our dear brother Willie.

Kind and unselfish, a brother true,
Our proudest possession is the memory of you,
If we could only say “Many happy returns of the day.”
God’s greatest gift – remembrance.

From Sisters Amy, Phyllis and Jennie.- King’s Avenue, Flint.
(County Herald 3rd April, 1936)

He sleeps beside his comrades,
In a British grave unknown,
But his name is written in letters of love,
In the hearts he has left at home.
He is His, he was once ours.

From All at Home.
(County Herald 3rd April, 1936)


Learn more about the other soldiers on the Flint Memorial

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