Charles Edward Haydon Parker
Sergeant, 'Q' Battery. Royal Horse Artillery
- Register No.
- 962 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Sergeant all Sergeants →
- Unit
- 'Q' Battery. Royal Horse Artillery all Royal Horse Artillery VCs →
- Date of action
- 31 March 1900 on this day → all of 1900 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second Boer War
- London Gazette
- 26th June 1900 on this day → all of 1900 →
- Born
- 11th March 1870 at Birmingham
- Died
- 5th December 1918 at Coventry, Warwickshire
- Memorial / grave
- at London Road Cemetery, Coventry, Warwickshire
Digest of citation
On 31st March 1900, two batteries of the Royal Horse Artillery were retiring towards Bloemfontein, South Africa. The Boers had formed an ambush at Korn Spruit and before it was realised they captured a large portion of the baggage column and five of the six guns of the leading battery. When the alarm was sounded Q battery was within 300 yards of the Spruit, they at once wheeled about, moving off at a gallop under very heavy fire. A wheel horse was shot, it's gun upset, and had to be abandoned, along with another waggon whose horses had been killed. The remainder of the battery came into action close to some unfinished railway buildings, 1,150 yards from the Spruit and remained in action until told to retire. Then Major Phipps-Hornby, Commanding the battery, ordered the guns and limbers to be run back to safety. This exhausting operation was carried out by Sergeant Parker, Major Phipps-Hornby, Gunner Lodge, , and Driver Glasock. When finally all the guns, except one and one limber, had been removed to safety: the battery was reformed
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
PARKER, Charles Edward Haydon. (reg No. 962).
Sergeant. 'Q' Battery. Royal Horse Artillery.
London Gazetted on 26th June 1900.
Born on 11th March 1870 at Birmingham.
Died on 5th December 1918 at Coventry, Warwickshire.
Memorial on grave at London Road Cemetery, Coventry, Warwickshire.
Digest of Citation reads: On 31st March 1900, two batteries of the Royal Horse Artillery were retiring towards Bloemfontein, South Africa. The Boers had formed an ambush at Korn Spruit and before it was realised they captured a large portion of the baggage column and five of the six guns of the leading battery. When the alarm was sounded Q battery was within 300 yards of the Spruit, they at once wheeled about, moving off at a gallop under very heavy fire. A wheel horse was shot, it's gun upset, and had to be abandoned, along with another waggon whose horses had been killed. The remainder of the battery came into action close to some unfinished railway buildings, 1,150 yards from the Spruit and remained in action until told to retire. Then Major Phipps-Hornby, Commanding the battery, ordered the guns and limbers to be run back to safety. This exhausting operation was carried out by Sergeant Parker, Major Phipps-Hornby, Gunner Lodge, , and Driver Glasock. When finally all the guns, except one and one limber, had been removed to safety: the battery was reformed.
Additional information:. Sergeant Parker along with Major Phipps-Hornby, reg No. 595; Gunner Lodge, reg No. 749; and Driver Glasdock, reg No. 452, were elected by the Regiment under Rule 13 of the Royal Warrant for the Victoria Cross. (each one being elected according to his rank by his peers ie., Officer, NCOs and Privates.[ see a royal warrant page.] ) NB. In the VC Research archives is a photograph of the grave of a Sergeant C. Parker. VC of D Battery Royal Horse Atillery. It is in Stellawood Cemetery, Durban, South Africa. As no VC, of this name, is on the Register,we can only assume that the VC claim is a fake, or it stands for some other meaning.
Additional information
Sergeant Parker along with Major Phipps-Hornby, reg No. 595; Gunner Lodge, reg No. 749; and Driver Glasdock, reg No. 452, were elected by the Regiment under Rule 13 of the Royal Warrant for the Victoria Cross. (each one being elected according to his rank by his peers ie., Officer, NCOs and Privates.[ see a royal warrant page.] ) NB. In the VC Research archives is a photograph of the grave of a Sergeant C. Parker. VC of D Battery Royal Horse Atillery. It is in Stellawood Cemetery, Durban, South Africa. As no VC, of this name, is on the Register,we can only assume that the VC claim is a fake, or it stands for some other meaning.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at London Road Cemetery, Coventry, Warwickshire
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
Research this recipient further
Would you like to honour Charles Edward Haydon Parker by sponsoring this page from £1 a month — in memory of someone, in your own name or for your company? Sponsor this page.