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Auction: 21003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 517

A Great War M.M. awarded to Private F. Parkinson, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment

Military Medal, G.V.R. (242022 Pte F. Parkinson. 2/5 L. N. Lanc: R.-T.F.), good very fine

M.M. London Gazette 23 February 1918.

Fred Parkinson was born in 1888 to Harry and Elizabeth Parkinson. He worked as a 'little piecer' in a Lancashire cotton mill at the age of 13 and in 1911 he is noted as living with his family at 41 Roxalina Street, Bolton. Married on 28 June 1913 to Mary Alice Horrocks at St. Marks Parish Church, Bolton, by this time he was working at James Marsden & Sons cotton mill. Enlisting with 2/5th 'Bolton Pals' Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, this Battalion joined the war in France on 9 February 1917, entering the frontline on 25 February.

That same year they were involved in the Battle of Passchendaele and it was here that Parkinson won his M.M. The Battalion moved to Poelcapelle on 24 October 1917 in preparation for their attack on 26 October and advanced at 05:40hrs in appalling weather. Immediately assailed by heavy machine gun and sniper fire the Battalion lost all of its company officers in a short space of time and the attack bogged down. The Company NCOs rallied small groups of men, who led them forward to attack with bayonets as the mud was jamming their weapons and the weight of enemy fire made long-range work almost impossible. After a day of heavy fighting they retired to their starting line and consolidated their positions. Parkinson survived the war, returning to Bolton and living on Norman Street with his wife. He is remembered on The Fine Cotton Spinners & Double Association Ltd Great War Roll of Honour; sold together with copied research including census records, London Gazette entries and newspaper clippings. Further entitled a British War and Victory Medal pair.

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Sold for
£270

Starting price
£110