Alfred Parsons

Story:
Alfred Parsons was born on 29 Aug 1873 in Shaftesbury, Dorset, and baptised at St. James Church, Shaftesbury, on 19th October, 1873. He was the son of George Pmarsons, a railway carman, and Emily Parsons (née Wright). His siblings included Charles, born in 1882, and Sidney George, born in 1890, both of whom died in the war. The family lived at Long Cross, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury. On 26th March, 1894 he married Emily Kate Gray. They had five children: three sons and two daughters. He had enlisted with the 4th Battalion (Territorial) of the Dorset Regiment at some time and had served four years before being place on the National Reserve. At the time of the 1911 Census, he was working as a coal carter and living at 78 St. James Street, Shaftesbury. He enlisted in Dorchester on 24th August, 1914, as a Private in the 2nd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 7475) but was transferred to the 1st HS Garrison Battalion of the Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire) Regiment (Service No. 3/34574) on 10 Feb 1917. He served on home duties in view of his age on the Isle of Portland, Dorset. On 5th April, 1917, he had a mild heart attack, caused in some respect due to military service, whilst on guard duty and went through a process of assessment for future military duty. He was found to be unfit for further duty on 25th April, 1917 and eventually discharged on 22nd June 1917. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals plus a pension.  (No record of the Silver War Badge was found). He regrettably died in early September 1917, and was buried in St. James' Churchyard on 14 Sep 1917, but this is not recorded as a war grave by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. He is remembered on the Park Walk and St. James’ War Memorials, Shaftesbury, and on the Roll of Honour in St. James’ Church, Shaftesbury. His widow  was awarded initially a pension of 27s. 6d. (£1.37p.) per week and, by 1920, was living in Kempston, Bedfordshire, and died there in 1940.