Henry Leonard Parry, Border Regiment

Lance Serjeant, 13257, "A" Company, 11th (Service) Battalion (Lonsdale), Border Regiment. Died, killed in action, aged 28, on 16 September 1916 at the Western Front.

The Battalion was formed in Penrith (HQ), Carlisle, Kendal and Workington on 17 September 1914 by the Earl of Lonsdale and an Executive Committee. It moved to Carlisle Racecourse and in May 1915 moved to Prees Heath and was attached to 97th Brigade in the 32nd Division. It relocated in June 1915 to Wensleydale and then onto Fovant in August. Adopted by the War Office on 27 August 1915, the Battalion landed at Boulogne 23 November 1915. On 10 May 1918 it was reduced to cadre strength. Lance Serjeant Parry enlisted in the 11th Battalion at Carlisle and entered France with the Battalion on 23 November 1915. He was previously employed as a Cook for the LNWR Company on the railway dining cars running from Euston to Edinburgh and lived at Brunswick Street, Carlisle. Previous to that he had lived in London for 7 years. In 1911 he boarded at 3 Little Drummond Street, Euston, London and was employed as a Cook.The Battalion was heavily involved in the first day of the Battle of the Somme on 1 July 1916. They moved out of their trenches at Authuille Wood at 08.30 but were decimated by enemy machine gun fire. In all they suffered losses of 500 men and 23 officers out of the 800 men and 28 officers that commenced the attack. Whilst recovering from their horrific experience and to absorb new recruits they took up trench duty at Cambrin in early August, with billets in Bethune when out of line. September saw them at Cuinchy and back to Cambrin, where they remained until mid October. The Battalion War Diary records that on 16 September 1916 the Battalion was relieved from the front line at the Cuinchy Sector to move back to the Reserve Trenches. The relief started at 3pm and was complete at 5pm. A survivor of the initial actions of the Battle of the Somme, it is probable the Lance Serjeant Parrry was killed whilst the Battalion was on general trench duty, possibly during the relief when troops were on the move and more exposed. There are three others of the Battalion, who died during the same period of duty, buried at Cambrin Churchyard Cemetery.

Born at Holyhead, the son of Elizabeth and the late Owen Parry of 1, Railway Cottages, London Road, Holyhead. In 1891 he lived at 1 Railway Cottages, Holyhead with his parents, Owen Parry (46) and Elizabeth Parry (43) together with brothers Owen (10) and John (5). His father was employed as a Mariner and came from Holyhead. His mother originated from Llanbedr, Merionethshire. In 1901 he lived with his widowed mother and brothers John (15) and Richard (9) at the same address. In 1911 his mother lived alone at the same address. This Census also recorded that his mother had given birth to 13 children, 7 of which had died.

Awarded the 1914-15 Star, Victory Medal and British War Medal. Application for his medals was made on 23 August 1922.

Buried in the Cambrin Churchyard Extension, France. Grave location R.20.

I am grateful to Kev Johnstone (Spike) for permission to use the photograph of the grave. I am also indebted for the information relating to the 11th Battalion, Border Regiment sourced from his excellent website. www.freewebs.com/granatloch/ - BRH. The Chronicle of 28 January 1916 includes a letter from Lance Serjeant Parry describing his experience in the trenches http://welshnewspapers.llgc.org.uk/en/page/view/4243318/ART88/Holyhead