Current Information:

Born-Tottenham

Enlisted-Stratford

At the start of the war the 2nd Northamptonshire battalion were in Egypt but they soon returned to England where they joined 24 Brigade of 8th Division which landed in France on 6th November, 1914 and moved to the Neuve Chapelle - Richebourg  sector of the line. On 10th December 2nd Northamptonshire moved into the front line here where they remained until relieved on 14th December during which time they had 4 men killed and 13 wounded, including Edward Parker who was killed on 13th December. The battalion diary does not provide much information about the 4 days but the attrition rate among British soldiers on the Western Front was on average 300 each day and 60% of these were as a result of shellfire. When not involved in an actual battle it was either shell fire or a sniper’s bullet that caused most deaths and injuries.