Orders, Decorations and Medals

Five: Acting Chief Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class H. Parr, Royal Navy

Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1902-04 (E.R.A. 4Cl., H.M.S. Naiad); 1914-15 Star (269572 Act. C.E.R.A.2, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (269572 Act. C.E.R.A.2, R.N.); Royal Navy Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R. (269572 A/C.E.R.A. 2Cl., “Dragon”, Baltic 1919) mounted for wear, good very fine and better (5) £440-500

R.N. M.S.M. London Gazette 8 March 1920.

Herbert Parr was born in Nottingham on 18 April 1877. A Fitter by occupation, he joined the Royal Navy as an Acting Engine Room Artificer 4th Class on 9 January 1899, being confirmed in that rank in May 1901 when on H.M.S. Anson. He served on H.M.S. Naiad, October 1902-August 1904, seeing service off the coast of Somaliland. He was promoted to E.R.A. 3rd Class in November 1905 when on H.M.S. Sapphire; to E.R.A. 2nd Class in November 1906 when on H.M.S. Attentive and E.R.A. 1st Class in November 1911 when on H.M.S. Actæon. During the Great War he served on the 2nd class cruiser H.M.S. Yarmouth, April 1914-April 1916, early on serving in the blockade of Tsingtau. She also assisted in the hunt for the commerce raider Emden. The German light cruiser was not encountered but the Yarmouth did sink one of her supply colliers and capture another. Parr was appointed an Acting Chief Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class in July 1915. During June-November 1916 he served on H.M.S. Briton which was on loan to the Newfoundland Government as a training ship. He then served on the destroyers Oberon, December 1916-March 1917 and Tirade, July 1917-July 1918. On 29 September 1917 the destroyers Tirade and Sylvia sank the German submarine UC-55 off Lerwick. Parr then served on the minesweepers H.M.Ships Iroquois, September 1918-February 1919 and Marazion, July-September 1919. Then on the light cruiser H.M.S. Dragon, September 1919-January 1921, confirmed in his rank of C.E.R.A. 2nd Class, he served in the Baltic Sea and was awarded the M.S.M. for his services there. Parr was pensioned on 17 February 1921. With copied service papers and notes.