Current Information:

Age-20

1, Kilburn Priory, Kilburn

As the German retreat on the Western Front continued throughout October, 1918, on the 21st of that month, the 1st Rifle Brigade battalion of 11 Brigade, 4th Division moved into a very fluid front line which for them, on that date, ran from the railway near Haspres to the Haspres-Monchaux-sur-Écaillon road, some eight miles north-east of Cambrai. They were still meeting considerable resistance from enemy patrols and machine-gun nests but in the early morning of the following day, 22nd October, 1st Rifle Brigade captured nine prisoners with machine-guns in Bouveneule Farm which in turn led to the clearing of the wood to the east of it. They remained in this forward position until relieved the next night. Among the casualties they suffered during this period in the front line was William Parkin who was killed in action on 22nd October.