Archibald Joseph Parsons

Story:
Archibald Joseph Parsons was born in Semley, Wiltshire, on 17 Sep 1899 and baptised at Sedgehill, Wiltshire, on 4 Nov 1906 (with the rest of the family) the son of Joseph Parsons and Frances Parsons (nee Frost).  He lived all his early life in the Semley area.  He enlisted on 17 Oct 1917 and joined the Royal Field Artillery as a Gunner (Service No. HM/2268).  It is not known in which theatre of was he served but he had three transfers during his time i.e. Royal Hussars (Service No. 139593), the Training Reserve Battalion and finally, the Labour Corps as a Private (Service No. 668075).  He was discharged on 12 Jun 1919 being unfit for further service due to debility and a hernia.  He was awarded the Silver War Badge No.B229736 and received a small pension until 1921.  He appears to have qualified for the Victory and British War Medals.  The 1921 Census shows him living with his parents at Brickhill, Enmore Green, Dorset, working as a General Labourer. He married Dorothy Louise Wright at Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 30 Oct 1927.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was recorded at Station Road, Semley, Wiltshire, working as a Post Office Caretaker and Operator.  He later moved to 'Shaston', Shaftesbury Road, Gillingham, Dorset, and died there on 18 Dec 1979.  Of his brothers, Charles George Parsons served but died during the conflict whereas Walter John Parsons and Percy Frank Parsons both served and survived.