Also Served: William Parsonage - William PARSONAGE
5, Wood Street, Prescot Private 3857, 5th Bn., South Lancashire Regiment The 1901 census showed the family living at 20, Ackers Street, Prescot. William and Ellen had three sons and two daughters. By the time of the 1911, William Senior is widowed and the family is living at 18, Ackers Street, Prescot. This was the home of the late Ellen's mother, Bridget Flaherty. It is assumed that the family moved in with Bridget on the death of Ellen.
William joined the South Lancashire Regiment on 24th May 1015 at St Helens. He stated that he had previous service with the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
William was included in the Reporter list of men serving, produced in May 1915. On 3rd December that year, he sailed for France, remaining there until he came back to the UK on 16th August 1916 after suffering a Gun Shot Wound to the back of his neck on 9th/10th August.
On that date, the Battalion were heavily involved in the fighting at Guillemont, suffering 8 officer and 130 Other Rank casualties. Of these, 34 were killed.
William was moved through the chain of medical treatment from a Casualty Clearing Station and Stationery Hospital before embarking for home aboard the Hospital Shop 'Cambrian'. His records also show that he was in hospital in Oswestry for 14 days at the end of October 1916 with a scalp wound, although it isn't clear how this came about.
On 15th April 1917 when he was transferred to the reserve, apparently to work at Lea Green Colliery, but this only lasted for two weeks after which he was discharged as being no longer physically fit for War service. At this time he stated that his next of kin was his wife, Annie and that they lived at 8, Sewell Street, Prescot.
William was discharged on 30th August 1917 with a medal entitlement of the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
An undated item in the Prescot reporter (courtesy Ste M)
He was also entitled to the Silver War Badge and the image below, extracted from the Silver War Badge rolls, confirms that he enlisted on 24th May 1915, was discharged on 29th April 1917 and that the reason for his discharge was that he was no longer physically fit for war service.
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