Private Cecil Robert Parkin

Born in Chester c.1880, Cecil was the son of William and Elizabeth Parkin. The couple also had four other children - Reginald, Kate, Blanche and William Junior. Cecil’s father was a tobacconist and in 1881, he and his family were living at 37 Nicholas Street, Chester. By 1891 they had moved to 16 King Street.

By the age of 21, Cecil had found work as a Butcher’s assistant and was living with his employer. During the early summer of 1906 he married Lydia Martha Webb and the couple had a daughter (also named Lydia) soon afterwards. Unfortunately, their daughter died the following year.

During World War One, Cecil served with the 2nd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. It is not known when he joined the unit but the battalion had been stationed in India and returned to Britain in January 1915, becoming part of the 29th Division of the 86th Brigade.

In March 1915 the men embarked from Avonmouth, Bristol, landing at Gallipoli on 25 April. They were immediately called into action, fighting Turkish forces at the Battle for Krithia on the Gallipoli Peninsula. The 86th Brigade was chosen to land at ‘X’ beach first, in order to cover the landing of other units. Under cover of bombardment from their ship, the 'Implacable', they scaled the 100 foot cliff and captured the first trench. The amphibious invasion took place on five beaches at the southern tip of the peninsula. There were heavy casualties during the main landings at ‘V’ and ‘W‘ beaches. Another landing at ‘Y’ beach was more successful, but the troops were not given adequate instruction and made no attempt to advance, so failed in their objective to take the village of Krithia.

Cecil was killed on the first day of the battle, so must have died at Cape Helles, alongside many of his British and French comrades. He was then 36 years of age. He is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, which stands at the tip of the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey. It takes the form of an obelisk, over 30 metres high, that can be seen by ships passing through the Dardanelles. Cecil’s name also appears on the Mitcham War Memorial.

Cecil’s widow, Lydia, married Thomas Meriton in 1918 and the couple lived at 61 University Road, Colliers Wood for a number of years.

We know that Cecil’s younger brother, William, joined the army in 1914, aged 27. He served as a Private in the York and Lancaster Regiment. Records show that he was wounded in the arm and head at some point during 1917 - injuries that led to him being considered ‘fit for command Depot, but not for duty’. Thankfully he appears to have survived the war.