Source: Great-Uncle to 18th Battalion Facebook Group member Deryck N. Robertson.
Brother to Private Thomas Parker, reg. no. 195745, who was killed in action April 13, 1917. It is said that this brother attended to his brother as he died of his wounds.
Summary of Service for Private John Edward Parker, reg. no. 195573
| Date | Event | Remarks |
| August 10, 1889 | Born | Born at Theusay [sic], Lincoln, England |
| January 24, 1916 | Enlists with 93rd Battalion, C.E.F. | Enlists in Peterborough, Ontario showing is place of residence as Hastings, Ontario. |
| January to July 1916 | Serves and trains with 93rd Battalion. | |
| March 14, 1916 | Anti-Typhoid Inoculation | |
| March 27, 1916 | Anti-Typhoid Inoculation | |
| May 10, 1916 | Vaccinated | |
| May 18, 1916 | Completed Form | Particulars of Family of an Officer or Man Enlisted in the C.E.F. shows Private Parker has life insurance in the amount of $1,000 with Manufacturer’s Life. |
| July 1, 1916 | Assigns pay. | Assigns $20.00 per month to a John W. Roarbeck of R.R. #2, Norwood, Ontario. This pay is assigned until December 1917 and then stops. |
| July 15, 1916 | Unit sails to England | Embarks Halifax, Nova Scotia. |
| July 25, 1916 | Arrives England | Disembarks Liverpool, England. |
| September 15, 1916 | Taken On Strength with 18th Battalion | |
| September 16, 1916 | Arrives France | Arrives at Canadian Base Depot. |
| October 3, 1916 | Arrives 18th Battalion | Arrives at the Somme. Part of 66 other ranks arriving as reinforcements: “Battalion moved into reserve at SAUGAGE VALLEY. LIEUT. L.A. BISSELL taken on as reinforcement from 28.9.16. LIEUT. A.E. COCK and 3 wounded, 9 o.r.s. admitted to hospital. 66 o.r.s. arrived as reinforcements.” |
| May 6, 1917 | Wounded, G.S.W. upper right arm | War Diary Entry: “Position as yesterday. During this tour much valuable work was done in improving defences, wiring, and deepening the trenches, also in the collection of salvage which was spread over the whole area. Each company established a dump and rivalled each other in the collection of the S.S.A. [small arms ammunition] Bombs, and Equipment etc. 23, o.rs arrived as reinforcements. 4 o.rs admitted to hospital.” |
| May 7, 1917 | Wounded, G.S.W. upper right arm | Attended to at No. 22 Casualty Clearing Station. |
| June 3, 1917 | Discharged to Duty | Joins Battalion at Neuville-St.-Vast. |
| June 27, 1917 | I.C.T. right hand | “Inflammation of Connective Tissue” Attended to at 5 Canadian Field Ambulance. |
| June 31, 1917 | Returns 18th Battalion | |
| September 30, 1917 | Well and with 18th Battalion | Interesting entry in response to a letter. |
| October 10, 1917 | Appointed Lance-Corporal | Appointed Lance-Corporal as Lance-Corporal C.W. Boyd reg. no. 455590 promoted. |
| February 2, 1918 | On Roll with Canadian Corp Reinforcement Camp | It is unknown why Lance-Corporal Parker was assigned to the C.C.R.C. Possibly as an instructor. |
| September 3, 1918 | Rejoins 18th Battalion | Battalion active in Last 100 Days. In Beaurains, France. |
| October 10, 1918 | Wounded | Battalion very active in action. |
| October 12, 1918 | Transferred to No. 32 Stationary Hospital | G.S.W. left leg. 32 Stationary Hospital is located West Wemerieux. |
| October 16, 1918 | Transferred to England | Transfers on H.M.H.S. St. David to Witley Camp |
| October 17, 1918 | Transferred to Western Ontario Regimental Depot | This type of transfer usually signalled the soldier was going to be sent home. At Horton County Hospital. |
| November 22, 1918 | Transferred to 1st Canadian Convalescent Depot | |
| December 18, 1918 | Struck of Strength to 4th Reserve Depot | |
| December 29, 1918 | Medical and Dental Exam at Kimmel Park | Corporal Parker is listed in “fair” health and at 140 pounds. He has gained 3 pounds since his enlistment. |
| January 9, 1919 | Struck of Strength and proceeding to Canada | |
| February 5, 1919 | Medical Exam for soldier with no disability. | Lance-Corporal Parker loses 2” of height and gains 20 pounds from his medical exam on December 29, 1918. |
| February 10, 1919 | Last Pay Certificate and Discharge from C.E.F. | At this time, he was serving as a Lance-Corporal. His daily rate of pay was $1.05 per day with the standard $0.10 per day field allowance. He is discharged in Kingston, Ontario. Reason for discharge – Demobilization. |
