Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of George Alfred Parnham, a domestic groom, born 1850 in Sleaford, Lincolnshire and his wife Jane Parnham (nee Oliver, married on the 4th December 1881 in St. John the Evangelist Church, Carrington, Nottinghamshire), born 1859 in Old Basford, Nottinghamshire. George Albert was born in the 1st quarter of 1890 in Old Dalby, Leicestershire, his siblings were, Sarah Elizabeth, a schoolgirl, born 1882 in Sherwood, Nottinghamshire, and who was baptised on the 6th September 1882 in St. John the Evangelist Church, Carrington and William Oliver, a schoolboy, born 1886 in Nottingham, in April 1890 the family home was at Dalby on the Wolds, Leicestershire. In March 1901 George was residing in the family home at The Grange, Old Dalby, Leicestershire, together with his father a domestic groom, his mother and siblings, Sarah, William, a farm servant, Mary Jane, born 1892 and Elizabeth Maud, born 31st January 1895, the latter two siblings were both born in Old Dalby. In April 1911 George was employed as a railway labourer and was residing in the family home at 217, Thorpe Road, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, together with his father, a clergyman’s groom, his mother and siblings, Mary, a wool manufacturer’s wool doubler and Eliza.
George attested into the Army Reserve (Special Reservist’s) to serve an engagement of 6 years on the 1st December 1909 in Melton Mowbray. He gave his place of birth as Old Dalby, Leicestershire, his age as 19 years and 11 months, and his trade or calling as Labourer. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his father George Alfred, his mother Jane, his brother William and sisters Elizabeth, Ethel, Mary and Maud, all of 217, Thorpe Road, Melton Mowbray as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 5 inches in height, weighed 124 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 34 and 36 inches. His hair colour was auburn and he had blue eyes. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for the Army Reserve on the 2nd December 1909 in Leicester. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 10542 on the 1/12/09. Posted to the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment and commenced drill training on the 1/12/09 - 5/5/10. Deducted 5 days pay for absence on the 29/3/10. Attended musketry training on the 12/8/10 – 11/9/10. Present on the 12/9/10. Present on the 5/6/11. Present 1912. Present 1913. Mobilised on the 5/8/14. Posted to the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, and embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 9/11/14. Suffered a gunshot wound to both legs, 8/15. Admitted to No.1 Reading War Hospital on the 11/8/15 – 9/9/15. Posted to the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment on the 11/8/15. Posted to the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 18/9/15. Posted to the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment on the 23/9/15. Posted to the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 23/10/15. Posted to the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, and embarked from Devonport aboard H.T. Persic to join the Egyptian Expeditionary Force on the 17/2/16. Disembarked Basra on the 21/3/16. Joined the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, in the field on the 3/4/16. Wounded in action, gunshot wound to the abdomen on the 9/4/16. Admitted to the 40th Field Ambulance on the 12/4/16. Died of wounds received in action in the Persian Gulf on the 12/4/16. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 1/12/09 – 8/11/14, 4 years 343 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 9/11/14 – 10/8/15, 275 days. Home Service, 11/8/15 – 16/2/16, 190 days. Egyptian Expeditionary Force, 17/2/16 – 12/4/16, 56 days. Total service 6 years 134 days. George was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals. The following information was provided by George’s mother Jane Parnham on the 8th May 1919, and was witnessed and signed by R. W. Brownlow, Justice of the Peace, 38, Melton Road, Melton Mowbray on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, George Alfred Parnham of 217, Thorpe Road, Melton Mowbray. Mother of soldier, Jane Parnham, of 217, Thorpe Road, Melton Mowbray. Full blood brother of soldier, William Oliver Parnham, age 32 of 33, Doctors Lane, Melton Mowbray. Full blood sisters of soldier, Sarah Elizabeth, age 37 of New Inn Cottages, Kinoulton, Nottinghamshire. Ethel Rose, age 36 of Old Barnaby, Nottinghamshire. Mary Jane, age 27 of 123, Thorpe Road, Melton Mowbray. Eliza Maud, age 24 of 217, Thorpe Road, Melton Mowbray. George’s surviving service documents are in poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 9 Apr-16 - 13th Division attacked enemy’s position at dawn on the left of 28th Brigade, attack did not succeed. Rest of the day spent in trenches.
On Friday May 12th 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. – PRIVATE PARNHAM KILLED. Mr. and Mrs. G. Parnham, of 217, Thorpe-road, Melton Mowbray, received an official intimation yesterday from Captain T. L. Angel, of the Record Office, Lichfield that their son, Private George A. Parnham, died on April 12th, from wounds received in action at the Persian Gulf, and expressing the sympathy and regret of the Army Council at their loss. Deceased who was 23 years of age, joined the Leicestershire Regiment seven years ago, and subsequently worked on the Midland Railway. He was called up as a reservist when war was declared, and at once went out to France with the 1st Leicesters. Deceased saw a considerable amount of fighting, going through the battles of Mons, Hill 60, Neuve Chapelle, Ypres. In the course of the last named last August, he was wounded by a shell, and was brought to Reading Hospital. On recovering, Pte. Parnham was transferred to the ---- battalion, and proceeded with them to Mesopotamia. Deceased was an enthusiastic footballer, and played for Melton Reserves. He was known by his associates as “Ginger” Parnham. Much sympathy will be felt for the bereaved parents.