Lieutenant and Superintendent Anthony John Parkes MBE Queens Regiment and Devon & Cornwall Police
The Man Anthony John Parkes (Tony) was born on Thursday12th November 1925 in Camberwell, Surrey, son of Leonard Harold S a Milk Salesman and Clara nee Mitchell, he had one sister Petronell Clare (1929–2023).
At the outbreak of World War II on 3rd September 1939 Tony was still at school aged 13, and living with his parents at 25 Stanbury Road, Camberwell. When a little older he seems to have joined one of the Civil Defence Organisations until he was 18 in November 1943 when he enlisted into the Army with service number 14440599, seeing service in the Burma campaign.
He became an Officer Cadet and on 1st January 1945 was granted an Emergency Commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant into the Queen’s Regiment with new service number 343133. At the end of the War, he was awarded the 1939-45 Star, Burma Star, Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45.
He was promoted to War Substantive Lieutenant and transferred to the Regular Army on 14th December 1946 as 2nd Lieutenant and promoted to substantive Lieutenant on 1st November 1947.
There are no details available, but Tony appears to have committed a criminal offence of sort, as he was convicted by the Civil Powers and removed from the Army on 6th April 1949.
Tony married Doreen MacNally in Brixworth, Northampton and they appear to have moved to Cornwall having three children, Penelope A born in 1949, Lamorna J 1950 and Nicholas John 1959.
Despite his conviction Tony joined the Devon and Exeter Police in around 1950, his misdemeanor clearly not going against him as he rose through the police ranks to become a Superintendent, no mean feat. He transferred to the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary upon it formation in 1967, this having subsumed the Devon and Exeter, Cornwall County and Plymouth City Police.
Tony was awarded his Police Exemplary Service Medal as an Inspector and in 1977 the Silver Jubilee Medal, followed in 1980 by becoming a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (Civil Division) as a Superintendent. To be awarded both the SJM 77 and MBE for policing indicated he was extremely highly regarded.
Following his retirement in about 1980 or thereabouts, Tony and Doreen lived at 66 The Churchills, Highweek, Newton Abbott and he became a director for a company called Forward Living from which he resigned on 28th November 2000 aged 75.
Tony died on 10th January 2010 aged 84 in Newton Abbott Hospital and his funeral service was held at Torquay Crematorium on Tuesday 26th January at 1415h. No flowers were requested but donations could be made to Shelter Box an emergency disaster relief organisation.
Doreen died 11 years later on 27th March 2021 aged 92.
At the outbreak of World War II on 3rd September 1939 Tony was still at school aged 13, and living with his parents at 25 Stanbury Road, Camberwell. When a little older he seems to have joined one of the Civil Defence Organisations until he was 18 in November 1943 when he enlisted into the Army with service number 14440599, seeing service in the Burma campaign.
He became an Officer Cadet and on 1st January 1945 was granted an Emergency Commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant into the Queen’s Regiment with new service number 343133. At the end of the War, he was awarded the 1939-45 Star, Burma Star, Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45.
He was promoted to War Substantive Lieutenant and transferred to the Regular Army on 14th December 1946 as 2nd Lieutenant and promoted to substantive Lieutenant on 1st November 1947.
There are no details available, but Tony appears to have committed a criminal offence of sort, as he was convicted by the Civil Powers and removed from the Army on 6th April 1949.
Tony married Doreen MacNally in Brixworth, Northampton and they appear to have moved to Cornwall having three children, Penelope A born in 1949, Lamorna J 1950 and Nicholas John 1959.
Despite his conviction Tony joined the Devon and Exeter Police in around 1950, his misdemeanor clearly not going against him as he rose through the police ranks to become a Superintendent, no mean feat. He transferred to the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary upon it formation in 1967, this having subsumed the Devon and Exeter, Cornwall County and Plymouth City Police.
Tony was awarded his Police Exemplary Service Medal as an Inspector and in 1977 the Silver Jubilee Medal, followed in 1980 by becoming a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (Civil Division) as a Superintendent. To be awarded both the SJM 77 and MBE for policing indicated he was extremely highly regarded.
Following his retirement in about 1980 or thereabouts, Tony and Doreen lived at 66 The Churchills, Highweek, Newton Abbott and he became a director for a company called Forward Living from which he resigned on 28th November 2000 aged 75.
Tony died on 10th January 2010 aged 84 in Newton Abbott Hospital and his funeral service was held at Torquay Crematorium on Tuesday 26th January at 1415h. No flowers were requested but donations could be made to Shelter Box an emergency disaster relief organisation.
Doreen died 11 years later on 27th March 2021 aged 92.
Naming on Tony Parke's medals
The Story The medals awarded to Anthony John Parkes were acquired from E-Bay on 21st June 2024 and of interest because of the Silver Jubilee 1977 and Police Exemplary Service Medal combination, a sub theme of this collection, but also because of the MBE and medals privately named to him as a Lieutenant.
As the World War II medals were named with his rank and the Police medal gave his first name, this enabled details from the London Gazette to be established. The SJM 77 Roll gave the Constabulary he served in as Devon and Cornwall, enabling Ancestry to be checked in more detail.
However, there were several Anthony John Parkes, born in about the year required for award of the WWII medals and the task was almost given up on. A lucky hit on Google though revealed an entry in the Companies House Register, showing Anthony as a director, living in Newton Abbott, Devon and a retired police officer, also giving his year of birth.
This, as is often the case, allowed a far more detailed search to take place, including his will and obituary to be located, enabling a reasonable biography to be compiled.
Of interest, is the fact Tony was effectively dishonourably discharged from the Army in 1949 having been convicted by the Civil Powers of an unknown offence, yet shortly afterwards, joined the police, rising to high rank and being recognised twice for his service, with the silver Jubilee Medal 1977 and the MBE.
As the World War II medals were named with his rank and the Police medal gave his first name, this enabled details from the London Gazette to be established. The SJM 77 Roll gave the Constabulary he served in as Devon and Cornwall, enabling Ancestry to be checked in more detail.
However, there were several Anthony John Parkes, born in about the year required for award of the WWII medals and the task was almost given up on. A lucky hit on Google though revealed an entry in the Companies House Register, showing Anthony as a director, living in Newton Abbott, Devon and a retired police officer, also giving his year of birth.
This, as is often the case, allowed a far more detailed search to take place, including his will and obituary to be located, enabling a reasonable biography to be compiled.
Of interest, is the fact Tony was effectively dishonourably discharged from the Army in 1949 having been convicted by the Civil Powers of an unknown offence, yet shortly afterwards, joined the police, rising to high rank and being recognised twice for his service, with the silver Jubilee Medal 1977 and the MBE.
Medal Details:
- Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire: Unnamed as awarded.
- 1939-45 Star: LT A.J.PARKES
- Burma Star: LT A.J.PARKES
- Defence Medal: LT A.J.PARKES
- War Medal 1939-45: LT A.J.PARKES
- Silver Jubilee Medal 1977: Unnamed as awarded.
- Police Exemplary Service Medal: INSPR. ANTHONY J PARKES
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This page last updated 27 Jun 24
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