Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Crawford Parker TD MA Royal Berkshire Regiment and Combined Cadet Force
The Man Stuart Crawford Parker was born on Saturday 13th September 1913 in Lewisham, son of Thomas H, a Bank Inspector and Mary Jane nee McDowell. He had one sister, Eileen A born on 9th September 1912 and was educated at Edinburgh University, where he gained a degree in French and awarded a Bronze University medallion.
The 1939 Register shows Stuart, aged 26 living with his family at 23 Pampisford Road, Croydon, Surrey, and employed as a Bank Clerk. He had also enlisted into a specialist Officer Cadet Training Unit and following the outbreak of World War II on the 3rd September 1939, continued working in the bank and with his OCTU training. He married his next-door neighbour’s daughter, Betty Gwendoline Mash during the first quarter of 1941 aged 28, they had one son Nigel McDowell born in the first quarter of 1944.
On 5th April 1941 Stuart was granted an Emergency Commission in the Regular Army direct from OCTU as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 10th Battalion, Royal Berkshire (Princess Charlotte of Wales) Regiment with service number 180646.
A precis of the Battalion’s War Diary, interspersed with relevant facts regarding Stuart reveal that in January 1942 they were still in Suffolk and had commenced intensive training, setting sail on 28th August from Liverpool. Stuart was promoted to War Substantive Lieutenant on 1st October 1942, landing at Basra, Iraq on 5th November 1942, moving to Kirkuk for further training.
During March 1943 they moved to Egypt and continued training, moving again in June to Gaza where they were ordered to waterproof all their vehicles in preparation for the invasion of Sicily, Operation Husky. The Battalion set sail in July landing on 12th, their first action being at Fossa Bottaceto and suffering heavy casualties. They remained here for a further five days under fire nicknaming it "Berkshire Farm", before being withdrawn into reserve.
The 1939 Register shows Stuart, aged 26 living with his family at 23 Pampisford Road, Croydon, Surrey, and employed as a Bank Clerk. He had also enlisted into a specialist Officer Cadet Training Unit and following the outbreak of World War II on the 3rd September 1939, continued working in the bank and with his OCTU training. He married his next-door neighbour’s daughter, Betty Gwendoline Mash during the first quarter of 1941 aged 28, they had one son Nigel McDowell born in the first quarter of 1944.
On 5th April 1941 Stuart was granted an Emergency Commission in the Regular Army direct from OCTU as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 10th Battalion, Royal Berkshire (Princess Charlotte of Wales) Regiment with service number 180646.
A precis of the Battalion’s War Diary, interspersed with relevant facts regarding Stuart reveal that in January 1942 they were still in Suffolk and had commenced intensive training, setting sail on 28th August from Liverpool. Stuart was promoted to War Substantive Lieutenant on 1st October 1942, landing at Basra, Iraq on 5th November 1942, moving to Kirkuk for further training.
During March 1943 they moved to Egypt and continued training, moving again in June to Gaza where they were ordered to waterproof all their vehicles in preparation for the invasion of Sicily, Operation Husky. The Battalion set sail in July landing on 12th, their first action being at Fossa Bottaceto and suffering heavy casualties. They remained here for a further five days under fire nicknaming it "Berkshire Farm", before being withdrawn into reserve.
The Battalion were then involved in operations around Primasole and on 5th August 1943 took part in the General Advance after the German defences were breached at Etna. On 10th October they moved to Italy and later the same month to a position at Pignataro, taking part in the attack on the ridge at Calvi Risorta followed by further actions at Teano, Gloriana and Roccamonfina.
During the winter of 1943 the Battalion saw further action at the River Garigliano and Monte Camino and in early December were relieved and moved to Casanova. On 1st January 1944 they left Casanova and returned to action, playing a major part in the crossing of the River Garigliano, crossing themselves on 20th January.
The next day 21st the Battalion arrived and occupied Mount Damiano, where they were instantly attacked,
repeatedly so, by the Germans from dawn onwards.
By the afternoon of 22nd the Battalion had experienced the heaviest shelling they had ever known, but managed to hold the hill, fighting continuously for the next few days. They were relieved on 25th and able to have a short rest, before becoming part of an independent brigade group.
On 2nd February 1944, they landed in Anzio in Italy and took up position north of the town and on 5th took over part of the line near Carroceto from the divisional reconnaissance regiment. It was on 8th February 1944 that Stuart was injured during the fighting. His injury was later described as a permanently handicapping wound.
A month later on 4th March, the Battalion along with the Division were sent back to Egypt to re fit and in April the Battalion disbanded due to the lack of manpower.
No further details of Stuart’s service during the war are available, but he was appointed as Captain and saw subsequent service after the war with the 2nd Battalion, Sherwood Foresters in Palestine during the Jewish Revolt. He was awarded the 1939-45 Star, Africa Star with ‘1st Army’ clasp, Italy Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45 and the General Service Medal with clasp ‘Palestine 1945-48’.
On 31st July 1946 Stuart relinquished his Commission in the Regular Army and began work at Abingdon School as a House Tutor at School House and Head of Modern Languages. The same day he was appointed to The Territorial Army, joining the Junior Training Corps, Abingdon School Contingent as 2nd Lieutenant and becoming its Commanding Officer shortly afterwards.
Stuart was a keen sportsman, being a particularly stylish batsman and a sound hockey player, running the school cricket from 1945 until 1952. On 1st April 1950 he was promoted to Lieutenant still serving with the Abingdon School contingent (now part of the Combined Cadet Force) and on 11th April 1951 made Acting Major. Stuart was also confirmed at a ‘mature’ age in the school Chapel.
On the 17th March 1959, Stuart was awarded the Efficiency Decoration ‘Territorial’ this appearing in the London Gazette of 13th March 1959. On the 1st July 1960, he relinquished his Commission in the Regular Reserve of Officers with the rank of Lieutenant, he remained in service with the CCF at Abingdon School and on 5th April 1961 aged 48 was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel. In the London Gazette of 30th January 1973 he was awarded the Cadet Forces Medal and clasp.
In September 1973 aged 60, Stuart is reported in the Abingdonian Magazine to have relinquished command of the Abingdon School CCF.
“At the end of the term Colonel Parker relinquished the command of the CCF, which he had held for some
seventeen years. In that .me the size of the Corps has more than doubled and advanced naval and air sections have been added to its establishment. Successive Inspecting Officers have paid high tribute to the efficiency of the Corps under Colonel Parker’s command and now would thank him on behalf of the school for all that he has done.”
Despite the above, The London Gazette records that he resigned his Commission on 13th September 1978 with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.
Sadly, Stuart died suddenly on 28th June 1981 aged just 67, in Oxford where he lived. His obituary described him as
‘Very brave and not suffering fools gladly, as boys and colleagues, even very senior ones, would find as recipients of his shafts of wit’.
Betty lived a further 16 years and passed away in Kingston, Surrey on 30th May 1997.
During the winter of 1943 the Battalion saw further action at the River Garigliano and Monte Camino and in early December were relieved and moved to Casanova. On 1st January 1944 they left Casanova and returned to action, playing a major part in the crossing of the River Garigliano, crossing themselves on 20th January.
The next day 21st the Battalion arrived and occupied Mount Damiano, where they were instantly attacked,
repeatedly so, by the Germans from dawn onwards.
By the afternoon of 22nd the Battalion had experienced the heaviest shelling they had ever known, but managed to hold the hill, fighting continuously for the next few days. They were relieved on 25th and able to have a short rest, before becoming part of an independent brigade group.
On 2nd February 1944, they landed in Anzio in Italy and took up position north of the town and on 5th took over part of the line near Carroceto from the divisional reconnaissance regiment. It was on 8th February 1944 that Stuart was injured during the fighting. His injury was later described as a permanently handicapping wound.
A month later on 4th March, the Battalion along with the Division were sent back to Egypt to re fit and in April the Battalion disbanded due to the lack of manpower.
No further details of Stuart’s service during the war are available, but he was appointed as Captain and saw subsequent service after the war with the 2nd Battalion, Sherwood Foresters in Palestine during the Jewish Revolt. He was awarded the 1939-45 Star, Africa Star with ‘1st Army’ clasp, Italy Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45 and the General Service Medal with clasp ‘Palestine 1945-48’.
On 31st July 1946 Stuart relinquished his Commission in the Regular Army and began work at Abingdon School as a House Tutor at School House and Head of Modern Languages. The same day he was appointed to The Territorial Army, joining the Junior Training Corps, Abingdon School Contingent as 2nd Lieutenant and becoming its Commanding Officer shortly afterwards.
Stuart was a keen sportsman, being a particularly stylish batsman and a sound hockey player, running the school cricket from 1945 until 1952. On 1st April 1950 he was promoted to Lieutenant still serving with the Abingdon School contingent (now part of the Combined Cadet Force) and on 11th April 1951 made Acting Major. Stuart was also confirmed at a ‘mature’ age in the school Chapel.
On the 17th March 1959, Stuart was awarded the Efficiency Decoration ‘Territorial’ this appearing in the London Gazette of 13th March 1959. On the 1st July 1960, he relinquished his Commission in the Regular Reserve of Officers with the rank of Lieutenant, he remained in service with the CCF at Abingdon School and on 5th April 1961 aged 48 was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel. In the London Gazette of 30th January 1973 he was awarded the Cadet Forces Medal and clasp.
In September 1973 aged 60, Stuart is reported in the Abingdonian Magazine to have relinquished command of the Abingdon School CCF.
“At the end of the term Colonel Parker relinquished the command of the CCF, which he had held for some
seventeen years. In that .me the size of the Corps has more than doubled and advanced naval and air sections have been added to its establishment. Successive Inspecting Officers have paid high tribute to the efficiency of the Corps under Colonel Parker’s command and now would thank him on behalf of the school for all that he has done.”
Despite the above, The London Gazette records that he resigned his Commission on 13th September 1978 with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.
Sadly, Stuart died suddenly on 28th June 1981 aged just 67, in Oxford where he lived. His obituary described him as
‘Very brave and not suffering fools gladly, as boys and colleagues, even very senior ones, would find as recipients of his shafts of wit’.
Betty lived a further 16 years and passed away in Kingston, Surrey on 30th May 1997.
The Story The medal group awarded to Stuart Crawford Parker were acquired from E-Bay on 4th December 2022 and of interest because of the double long service combination together with a General Service Medal. The group having previously been looked at when on sale some years before at the London Medal Company.
The group is not dissimilar in many ways to that awarded to Ernest Percy Ball, also in this collection.
A lot of research had already been completed and came with the medals, Ancestry enabling additional more personal detail to be added.
An interesting group to a wartime officer who later went on to teach and serve in the Combined Cadet Force.
The group is not dissimilar in many ways to that awarded to Ernest Percy Ball, also in this collection.
A lot of research had already been completed and came with the medals, Ancestry enabling additional more personal detail to be added.
An interesting group to a wartime officer who later went on to teach and serve in the Combined Cadet Force.
Start Crawford Parker's Final Honours Frencha Edinburgh Univestiry medallion 1933-34.
Medal Details:
- 1939-45 Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Africa Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Italy Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- General Service Medal: CAPT. S.C.PARKER FORESTERS
- Efficiency Decoration: 1959
- Cadet Forces Medal: MAJOR S.C.PARKER TD CCF.
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This page last updated 11 Apr 23
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