JACK EDWARD PARKER
From May through to September 2026, Andrew will be fulfilling his dream to hike the iconic Land’s End to John O’Groats! You are all warmly invited to follow Andrew’s epic journey on his Facebook page, “Andrew Beal LEJOG” https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577588795730
As Andrew hikes the 1,300+ miles, he will raise funds for the Ipswich War Memorial Project to help finance our future exhibitions and research of the brave Ipswich men and women who lost their lives in conflict. If you would like to make a small donation, please click on the link: https://gofund.me/5d4a50570
Thank you for your love and support. Andrew & Helen – I.W.M.P.
Registered at birth as JOHN EDWARD PARKER.
Born: 9th September 1911, Whitton, Suffolk.
Died: 19th June 1944; age: 32; KiA – killed by a sniper.
WAR DIARY – Monday, 19th June 1944 – Weather foul, High wind with a certain amount of rain. Very cold for June. Nothing of operational importance; the weather kept everyone fairly quiet. During the afternoon, Major Fitch M.C., while leading a fighting patrol to clear a suspected house was killed. www.normandywarguide.com/war-diaries/1st-royal-norfolk-regiment-june-1944
Residence: Ipswich.
Rank: Private; Service Number: 6008890.
Regiment: Royal Norfolk Regiment, 1st Battalion.
Formerly Essex Regiment.
Originally buried at Saint-Aubin D’Arquenay, Calvados, next to the body of Major Frederic Fitch M.C., of the Royal Norfolk Regiment, 1st Battalion, KiA 19th June 1944, aged 35. Frederic of Bank House, Sheringham, Norfolk, was married with one daughter. The bodies were later exhumed, identified and re-buried 29th May 1945 at La Delivrande War Cemetery.
Grave Reference:
III.H.1A.
Douvres,
Calvados,
France.
Relatives Notified & Address: Son of Charles & Florence Parker, of 32, Wellington Road, Ipswich; husband of Dorothy Parker, of Ipswich.
Brother-in-law to JOHN MARKHAM MORTIMER.
Father: Charles Frederick Parker, born July 1882, Whitton, Suffolk. A Brickmaker.
Mother: Florence Julia Parker (nee Peters), born July 1884, Coddenham, Suffolk. A Wardrobe Dealer.
CENSUS
1921 The Street, Whitton, Suffolk.
John was 9 years and 9 months old. He attended School and lived with his parents and siblings.
Charles Parker, 38 years & 11 months old, General Labourer for Mr. E. Packard & Co., Chemical Manufacturer, of Bramford.
Florence Parker, 37 years & 11 months old, Home Duties.
Charles Frederick George Peters Parker, 14 years & 9 months old, an Errand Boy for Mr. E. Packard – Chemical Manufacturer, of Bramford, born Whitton.
Hilda Beatrice Parker, 12 years & 1 month old, at School, born Whitton.
Daisy Florence Parker, 7 years & 2 months old, at School, born Whitton.
In 1941, in Ipswich, Jack married Dorothy Markham Mayes (nee Mortimer), born 12th June 1911, Ipswich – daughter of William Markham, a market gardener – own account and Hannah Maria Mortimer (nee Bull), of Victoria Street, Ipswich. Dorothy was the widow of Arthur Walter Mayes, born 1910, Wickham Skeith, Suffolk – died 1940, Ipswich. Laid to rest at Ipswich Old Cemetery, section H.
Dorothy and Jack had one son:
David Colin Parker, born 1942, Ipswich.
Jack is also commemorated on Column 77, of the British Normandy Memorial, virtually opened by His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales, on the 6th June 2021.
The battalion landed on Red Queen Beach, the left flank of Sword Beach, at 07:25 on 6 June 1944, D-Day
1st Battalion, Royal Norfolk Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, would pass through the village of Hermanville and concentrate south of Colleville-Montgeomery. Because the capture of HILLMAN by the 1st battalion, The Suffolk Regiment caused serious delay to the plan of action, the 1st Battalion, Royal Norfolk Regiment was forced to make a wide detour around this German stronghold. A and B company, who lead this flanking maneuver, was fired upon by German machine guns from this position and sustained casualties. Eventually, with the remainder of the battalion who took a even wider detour around the left flank, they together attacked another German strongpoint, on the map known as ROVER. This stronghold was dominated by a single building and soon this soon became known as ‘Norfolk House’. The Battalion Headquarters would stay for the rest of D-Day in this vicinity south of Hillman.
The 1st Battalion continued in the forefront of the drive through Belgium, Holland and was finally part of the occupying force.
2 Comments
To whom it may concern ,I am try to find a picture of jack Edward Parker.He was my mother’s second husband and died leaving a 2year old son ,my stepbrother,who has never seen a photo of his dad,sadly my brother passed away on Saturday and would love for him to have a photo of his dad with him for his final journey,if you have a photo of jack I would be eternally grateful,thank you reading my request. Yours sincerely Cheryl Clarkson.
Dear Helen and Andrew,thank you for trying to find a picture of Jack,I really appreciate you taking the time to try and find one . Yours sincerely Cheryl.