Private George Parkin
Regiment Unknown
George Parkin was born in 1893 at Riddings, Derbyshire 3rd son of John Parkin a coal miner hewer at Pye Hill Colliery and Ruth (nee Slater). George’s engraving on the Jacksdale War Memorial shows his initial as ‘C’ but the original unveiling programme of 1921, shows his initial as ‘G’.
In 1891 the family was living at Fletcher’s Row, part of the Ecclesiastical District of Riddings but just a few minutes walk into Pye Hill and Jacksdale. In 1901 they had moved to nearby Pye Hill.
George was was one of 14 children, of whom 11 had survived by 1911. George’s brother and sisters were:- Ernest, Annie, James, Edith, Elizabeth, Ellen, Leslie, Fred, Elsie and Georgina.
In 1918 George married Mary Radford, a Pye Hill girl born in Ironville. George’s elder brother Leslie Parkin had married Mary’s elder sister Fanny in 1915 at St. Mary’s, Westwood.
George’s military record has not been found and without this nor any mention on the Absent Voter’s Roll it is almost impossible to establish which regiment he served with or any further details. In 1918 a son named Frederick was baptised at St. Mary’s, Westwood and George’s occupation is noted as ‘miner/soldier’. In 1921, son Robert was baptised at the same church and the father’s residence is noted as ‘Pye Hill’.
Further information would be welcome.