Harry Falconer Parsons
Second Lieutenant, 14th (Service) Battalion. Gloucestershire Regiment
- Register No.
- 967 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Second Lieutenant (register: Acting Second Lieutenant) all Second Lieutenants →
- Unit
- 14th (Service) Battalion. Gloucestershire Regiment all Gloucestershire Regiment VCs →
- Date of action
- 20–21 August 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 17th October 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Born
- 13th June 1897 at Rishton, Blackburn, Lancashire
- Died
- of wounds on 21st August 1917 near Epehy, France
- Memorial / grave
- at Villers-Faucon Communal Cemetery, France
Digest of citation
During a night attack on the 20th/21st August, 1917 near Epehy, France, by a strong party of the enemy on a bombing post under his command, the bombers holding the post were forced back, but Second Lieutenant Parsons stayed at his post. Single-handed and severely scorched and burned by liquid fire he continued to delay the enemy with bombs until he was severely wounded. His gallant action held the enemy long enough to allow for the organisation of a bombing party, which successfully drove back the enemy before they managed to gain entry into any part of the trench. He later died from the wounds received
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
PARSONS, Harry Falconer. (reg No. 967).
Second Lieutenant. 14th (Service) Battalion. Gloucestershire Regiment.
London Gazetted on 17th October 1917.
Born on 13th June 1897 at Rishton, Blackburn, Lancashire.
Died of wounds on 21st August 1917 near Epehy, France.
Memorial on grave at Villers-Faucon Communal Cemetery, France.
Digest of Citation reads: During a night attack on the 20th/21st August, 1917 near Epehy, France, by a strong party of the enemy on a bombing post under his command, the bombers holding the post were forced back, but Second Lieutenant Parsons stayed at his post. Single-handed and severely scorched and burned by liquid fire he continued to delay the enemy with bombs until he was severely wounded. His gallant action held the enemy long enough to allow for the organisation of a bombing party, which successfully drove back the enemy before they managed to gain entry into any part of the trench. He later died from the wounds received.
Additional information:. Second Lieutenant Parsons was the eldest son of the Reverend J.A. Ash Parsons of Bristol. He was educated at Kingswood School, Bristol . Before joining the Army he was taking a medical course, hoping become a medical missionary, at Bristol University. He was aged 20 when he was killed.
Additional information
Second Lieutenant Parsons was the eldest son of the Reverend J.A. Ash Parsons of Bristol. He was educated at Kingswood School, Bristol . Before joining the Army he was taking a medical course, hoping become a medical missionary, at Bristol University. He was aged 20 when he was killed.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Villers-Faucon Communal Cemetery, France
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