Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Memorial: | Pozieres Memorial | Panel 68 to 72. | |
| 2. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.131 | |
| 3. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 45D GQS | |
Awards & Titles: | |||
Family :
Second son of Robert and Margaret Park, of Ashington, Northumberland; husband of Mary J. Clark Park, of 29, Spottiswoode St., Edinburgh. Clerk to the Ashington Coal Company.Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: 15/Durham Light Infantry |
15th (Service) Battalion Formed at Newcastle in September 1914 as part of K3 and became part of 64th Brigade in 21st Division. Moved to Halton Park, going on to billets in Maidenhead in December 1914 and then back to Halton Park in April 1915. Finally moved to Witley in July. 11 September 1915 : landed at Boulogne |
| Action : The First Battles of the Somme 1918 and associated actions |
21 March - 4 July 1918. The Battles of the Somme in 1918 were mostly concerned with stemming the German advance which started in March 1918 and which made considerable gains in the Somme/Arras sector. Utilising surplus troops which had become available following the surrender of Russia after the October Revolution, the Germans gambled on a massive campaign that could win the war in the west before the USA could bring its resources to bear. Initial gains were in places spectacular but eventually dogged resistance coupled with supply problems and sheer exhaustion closed down the battle. Other attacks were launched along the front to probe the Allied defences but the same pattern of initial gains followed by stalemate prevailed. British casualties were almost 345,000.
Detail :
The Newcastle Journal reports his death in its 11th April, 1918, edition:- " PARK.-Killed in action on the 21st March, 1918, aged 32 years, Second-Lieutenant William Park, dearly beloved husband of M.J. Park, 29, Spottiswood Street, Edinburgh, and dearly beloved son of Robert and Margaret Park, of Ashington Cottage, Ashington."
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Ashington No. 2868 E.C. | Northumberland |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
28th February 1912 | 27th March 1912 | 20th June 1912 |
Listed as a 25 year old Clerk resident at Ashington at the time of his initiation in 1912. He is shown "Killed in action Mar 21. 1918."
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley