Harold Watson Parker Special Constabulary
The Man Harold Watson Parker was born on Thursday 22nd May 1902, in Penrith, Cumberland son of Alfred Chapman a Domestic Coachman and Emily Mary nee Mercer. He was one of four children, Ethel Chapman (1899-1901), Clifford Valentine (1912- ) and another unknown sibling. He also appears to have a half-sister Beatrice Mercer born in 1897.
In 1911 the family were living at 7 Coronation Road, Harrogate and Harold, aged 8 still at school. By 1925 he was living with his parents at 3 Skellfield Terrace Ripon, in 1934 Clifford was also registered as living with them and in 1935 Beatrice.
During the last quarter of 1934, Harold married Barbara Petty in Knaresborough. They had four children, Barbara I born in 1935, John M 1937, Marian 1937 and Brian R 1941. They lived at Rothay House, 30 Whitcliffe Lane, Skellgate.
During 1939 aged 37, Harold joined the Special Constabulary, most likely in one of the Yorkshire Constabularies and the 1939 Register shows the family (the two children having been redacted) living at Rothay House, 71 Kirkby Road, Ripon in Yorkshire, presumably having used the same house name. Harold is described as an Electrical Engineer and Special Constable.
Harold served in the SC throughout the war, being for whatever reason exempt from military service. In about 1943 he was awarded his Special Constabulary Long Service Medal (war service counting treble). Following the War he was also awarded the Defence Medal, remaining in the SC for many more years and awarded three long service clasps to his SC medal in 1948, 1953 and 1963, the latter aged 61.
Barbara passed away on 20th July 1964 and Harold during the second quarter of 1976 aged 74.
In 1911 the family were living at 7 Coronation Road, Harrogate and Harold, aged 8 still at school. By 1925 he was living with his parents at 3 Skellfield Terrace Ripon, in 1934 Clifford was also registered as living with them and in 1935 Beatrice.
During the last quarter of 1934, Harold married Barbara Petty in Knaresborough. They had four children, Barbara I born in 1935, John M 1937, Marian 1937 and Brian R 1941. They lived at Rothay House, 30 Whitcliffe Lane, Skellgate.
During 1939 aged 37, Harold joined the Special Constabulary, most likely in one of the Yorkshire Constabularies and the 1939 Register shows the family (the two children having been redacted) living at Rothay House, 71 Kirkby Road, Ripon in Yorkshire, presumably having used the same house name. Harold is described as an Electrical Engineer and Special Constable.
Harold served in the SC throughout the war, being for whatever reason exempt from military service. In about 1943 he was awarded his Special Constabulary Long Service Medal (war service counting treble). Following the War he was also awarded the Defence Medal, remaining in the SC for many more years and awarded three long service clasps to his SC medal in 1948, 1953 and 1963, the latter aged 61.
Barbara passed away on 20th July 1964 and Harold during the second quarter of 1976 aged 74.
The Story The medals awarded to Harold Watson Parker were acquired from Johnny Sparrow at the Stratford Upon Avon Medal Fair on 29th October 2023. They were of interest because of the three clasped Special Constabulary Medal.
As the group was mounted as worn, it was clear no World War I medals were missing, thus assumed he was too young to have been called up. A brief calculation - 1918 less 16 = 1902 therefore became a possible birth year. This resulted in a direct hit on Ancestry.UK showing Harold Watson Parker, a date of birth in 1902 and he listed as a Special Constable on the 1939 Register.
From this and the extraction of his wife’s will a basic biography was completed.
As is often the case with awards of the dated clasps for Special Constabulary Medals during the war when service counted treble, there is some discrepancy between his 1948 and 1953 clasps, which comes to 5 years rather than 10. However, this could be a case of earlier service not recognised by a clasp at the time due to the constraints of war.
As the group was mounted as worn, it was clear no World War I medals were missing, thus assumed he was too young to have been called up. A brief calculation - 1918 less 16 = 1902 therefore became a possible birth year. This resulted in a direct hit on Ancestry.UK showing Harold Watson Parker, a date of birth in 1902 and he listed as a Special Constable on the 1939 Register.
From this and the extraction of his wife’s will a basic biography was completed.
As is often the case with awards of the dated clasps for Special Constabulary Medals during the war when service counted treble, there is some discrepancy between his 1948 and 1953 clasps, which comes to 5 years rather than 10. However, this could be a case of earlier service not recognised by a clasp at the time due to the constraints of war.
Medal Details:
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- Special Constabulary Long Service Medal: HAROLD.W.PARKER
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This page last updated 19 Nov 23
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