William John Parsons

Story:
William John Parsons was born in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 22nd June 1894, the son of John Parsons and Elizabeth Harriet Parsons (née Pike).   He lived all his life, except for Military Service, in and around the Shaftesbury area.   He enlisted and joined the Somerset Light Infantry as a Private (Service No. 242261).  He was later transferred to the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 200037).  It is not known in which theatre he served but on discharge was awarded the Victory and British War medals.   He married Louisa Alford at Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 12th May 1920 and they went on to have three children. The 1921 Census shows him living at 7 Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a Sectional Roadman for Dorset County Council.  He was still at the same address by the time of the 1939 Register in the same employment.  He died on 4th Oct 1967 and was buried at the New Yard Cemetery, Melbury Abbas on 9th October 1967.  His brothers, Charles Douglas Parsons and Harry Stanley Parsons, also served in the conflict.