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Auction: 26002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 194

The 1917 D.S.O. awarded to Captain W. N. Parker, Royal Army Medical Corps, who served as the Medical Officer of 8th Battalion, Border Regiment, seeing action on the Somme and Vimy

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel; 1914-15 Star (Lieut. W. N. Parker. R.A.M.C.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Capt. W. N. Parker.), good very fine (4)

D.S.O. London Gazette 1 January 1917.

M.I.D. London Gazette 4 January 1917.

William Newton Parker was born at Great Gonerby, Lincolnshire in March 1860, the son of William and Mary Parker. Training in the medical profession he appears on the 1881 census living in London and working as an assistant doctor at 119 East India Road Surgery, All Saints. The turn of the century saw him listed as 'Medical Practitioner' with his address as 10 Tollington Park, Islington.

Despite his age Parker was not slow to volunteer on the outbreak of the Great War, being commissioned Lieutenant on 1 April 1915 with the Royal Army Medical Corps. He was posted to the 8th Battalion, Border Regiment with his rank listed as 'MO 1/C 8th Border Regt 25 Division'.

Entering the war in France on 25 September 1915, they saw their first action - and first casualties - at Le Bizet near Pleogstreet the same year. Taking part in no major assaults until the next year they went into action on the third day of the Somme Offensive, attacking near Thiepval.

They were in action repeatedly during the Offensive, suffering in total over 300 casualties which were doubtless attended by Parker. Later seeing further action at Vimy Ridge they were in a largely defensive role in the area before fighting at Messines in 1917 and Lys in 1918.

Parker survived the war and his medals were sent to the 'Military Hospital' Oswestry, suggesting he was still in service after the war ended. He remained in London following the war and died there at Hendon on 5 December 1944; sold together with copied research.

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Estimate
£700 to £900

Starting price
£550