John Parle was my grandfather, Frank was his younger brother.
Private John PARLE was the husband of Anne Parle, of 8, Grove St., Widnes.
He was killed instantly
by a bursting shell landing at his feet. A member of St Maries parish he
worked at the Vine Works in Widnes before he enlisted and had served in the
5th South Lancashire (Territorial Force) for four years before the outbreak
of the Great War.
Remembered with honour
VILLERS-POL COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, Nord, France.
In the perpetual care of
the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
| Cemetery: | VILLERS-POL COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, Nord, France |
| Grave Reference: | D. 8. |
| Location: | Villers-Pol is a village and commune in the Department of the Nord, between Valenciennes and Le Quesnoy. The Communal Cemetery Extension is signposted on the north side of the Communal Cemetery, about 50 metres away from the road D73. |
| Historical Information: | The Communal Cemetery Extension was made in November, 1918, by the 24th, Guards and 2nd Divisions; and one grave was brought in after the Armistice from a field between Sepmeries and Villers-Pol. There are now over 100, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, a small number are unidentified. The Extension covers an area of 1,183 square metres and is enclosed by a brick curb. |
Private Frank PARLE was the son of John and Mary Parle, of 12, Oxford Street, Widnes, Lancashire.
The son of Mr John Parle he was a regular who enlisted in
Liverpool in 1912 and was part
of the original British Expeditionary Force to land in France in August 1914,
involved in the fighting from the start, he took part in the retreat from Mons.
Educated at St Maries School, when he left he joined the Merchant Navy
as a ships boy with the ‘Allen Line’ and served on a vessel called the “Corsican.”
After an unknown time at sea he came back to Widnes
and worked at Dennis’s Works.
The 1st Battalion, The Cameronians, at the time of Frank Parle’s death were
engaged on working parties* it is thought he was killed carrying out this task.
* “Working Party” is defined as - Party of men usually from
the Infantry ranging in numbers from single figures to several hundred and
used for carrying parties or work behind the lines or in “No
Mans Land.”
Remembered with honour
BEUVRY COMMUNAL CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France.
In the perpetual care of
the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
| Cemetery: | BEUVRY COMMUNAL CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France |
| Grave Reference: | 56. |
| Location: | Beuvry is a town in the Pas de Calais, approximately 3 kilometres east of Bethune. The Communal Cemetery is 200 metres north of the church on Rue Edouart Vallant. The main war graves plot will be found directly opposite the entrance with scattered smaller plots to the right of this. |
| Historical Information: | Beuvry village was largely occupied during the War by Royal Engineers, Supply units and Artillery horse-lines. It remained in British possession even during the German offensive of April, 1918. Beuvry Communal Cemetery was used by units and Field Ambulances from November, 1914, to August, 1916. There are now over 100, 1914-18 and 30, 1939-45 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, a small number from the 1939-45 War are unidentified. |
With thanks to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for the above details and images.