Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Ernest Arthur Parker, a shoe trade finisher, born 1859 in Radford, Warwickshire and was baptised on the 10th July 1859 in Holy Trinity Church, Coventry, Warwickshire and his wife Sarah Cousins Parker (nee Richardson, married on the 2nd October 1879 in St. Mark’s Church, Belgrave Road, Leicester), a shoe trade machinist, born 16th December 1861 in Countesthorpe, Leicestershire. Ernest Albert, was born in the 3rd quarter of 1880 in Belgrave, Leicester, in April 1881 the family home was at 1, Court A, Royal East Street, Leicester. In April 1891 Ernest was a schoolboy and was residing in the family home in Harold Street, Aylestone, Leicester, together with his father, a boot and shoe trade finisher, his mother and siblings, Mary Ann, a schoolgirl, born in the 2nd quarter of 1884 in Leicester, Clara, a schoolgirl, born 1887 in Belgrave and Maud, born 8th January 1890 in Aylestone. In March 1901 Ernest was employed as a boot and shoe maker and was residing in the family home at 2, Swanscombe Road, Leicester, together with his father, a boot and shoe maker, his mother and siblings, Mary, a boot and shoe machinist, Clara, a boot and shoe trade fitter, Maud, Lizzie, born 1893, John Henry, born in the 1st quarter of 1896 and Arthur Richard, born 24th April 1899, the latter three siblings were all born in Leicester. Ernest also had another younger sibling, Dora Rebecca, born 8th September 1901 in Leicester. In April 1911 Ernest was employed as a boot maker and repairer and was residing in the family home at 4, Erith Road, Leicester, together with his wife, Mary Ann Parker (nee Richardson, married in the 4th quarter of 1904 in the Leicester district), born 15th November 1886 in Leicester and their children, May, a schoolgirl, born 2nd quarter of 1905 in Leicester, Arthur Albert, born 21st June 1906, Ernest Richard, born 8th February 1908 and Horace, born 31st July 1910, the latter three children were all born in Aylestone. They also had another daughter, Phyllis I., born 4th October 1912 in Leicester.
Ernest’s Army enlistment documents do not survive, all that is known of his military service is that he enlisted into the Lincolnshire Regiment, being allotted the service number 38038, and was posted as a Private to the 2nd Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment, at some point he was posted to the 1st Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment and it was while serving with this Battalion that he was killed in action, in the field on the 26th October 1917 in the locality of Polygon Wood, Belgium. He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
The War Diary records: 26 Oct-17 – (Friday). During the morning the Battalion Paraded under Company arrangements for washing of feet etc.
At 3:00pm the Battalion proceeded to the front line where they relieved the 10th YORKSHIRE REGIMENT. Despite the fact that the enemy was counter-attacking on either flank of the sector to which the Battalion was proceeding, and consequently was putting up a heavy barrage, the relief was carried out with few casualties, only 3 other ranks being killed and 7 wounded. The relief was completed by about 7:00pm. Battalion Headquarters was now in the BUTTE in POLYGON WOOD, the front line being about 1500 yards in front of this position.
On Friday December 21st 1917 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “LOCAL AND DISTRICT NEWS.” – SYSTON. – LOCAL SOLDIER KILLED. – Private Ernest Albert Parker (37), Lincolnshire Regiment, was killed in action October 26th, 1917. His widow lives at Leicester Road, Syston.