Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A mounted group of twelve miniature dress medals worn by Lieutenant-Colonel E. A. Parker, O.B.E., M.C., D.C.M., Royal Welsh Fusiliers

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military Division) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt; Military Cross, G.V.R.; Distinguished Conduct Medal, E.VII.R.; India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Hazara 1891; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Orange Free State; King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902; 1914 Star, with clasp; British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves; Coronation 1911; France, Third Republic, Croix de Guerre 1914-1918, with bronze palm; Order of Merite Agricole, breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel, mounted as worn, minor enamel damage to the last, very fine and better (12) £360-£440

Llewellyn Lord Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, September 2016.

O.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1919.

M.C. London Gazette 18 February 1915.

D.C.M. London Gazette 27 September 1901.

Edward Augustus Parker was born in Peckham, London about 1867 and enlisted in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers in December 1886. Having then served with the 1st Battalion in the Hazara Expedition of 1891 (Medal & clasp), he was appointed Sergeant-Major in October 1898 and participated in the operations in the Transvaal, west of Pretoria, including the action at Frederickstad on 20 October 1900. He was wounded on the latter occasion, mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 10 September 1901, refers) and awarded the D.C.M.

Subsequently commissioned as a Quarter-Master, with the honorary rank of Lieutenant, in the 1st Battalion in April 1904, he was a member of the regiment’s Coronation Contingent in 1911.

Advanced to Q.M. & Captain in April 1914, Parker joined the 1st Battalion in Flanders in early October and was consequently witness to the severe fighting that followed. Following an abortive attack on Menin on the 17th, the Battalion - numbering 1150 officers and men - took up positions on the Broodseinde Ridge: within three days, as a consequence of severe enemy shelling and numerous infantry assaults, the unit’s strength was reduced to 200 officers and men.

On the 29th, the Battalion was reinforced by 200 men and moved to new positions just east of the village of Zandvoorde. The Germans attacked in force on the following day, supported by 260 heavy artillery guns, and managed to get behind the Battalion’s line: it was all but annihilated, just 90 men answering the roll call on the 31st, among them Parker, the only surviving officer.

He was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 17 February 1915, refers) and awarded the M.C., both distinctions undoubtedly reflecting his ‘gallantry in the Field’, as cited in a reference written by Major-General H. E. Holman at a later date. He was invested with his M.C. by King George V at Windsor Castle in April 1915, one of the first officers to be so honoured.

Parker was subsequently appointed to the Staff, initially serving as A.D.C. to the G.O.C. 7th Division (November 1914-May 1915), and afterwards as a Camp Commandant In IV Corps H.Q. (May 1915-February 1916), and Camp Commandant 4th Army (February 1916-March 1918). Then following a brief spell as Camp Commandant, Supreme War Council, he returned to his post in 4th Army and remained similarly employed until the war’s end.

He was awarded the O.B.E. and five times mentioned in despatches (London Gazettes 15 June 1916, 4 June 1917, 7 April 1918, 20 December 1918 and 5 July 1919, refer); in addition he was appointed a Chevalier of the French Order of Merite Agricole (London Gazette 7 October 1919, refers), and awarded the Croix de Guerre (London Gazette 24 October 1919, refers).

Parker, who had been advanced to Q.M. & Major on the recommendation of Lieutenant-General H. Rawlinson, G.O.C. IV Corps, in May 1915, was appointed Q.M. & Lieutenant-Colonel in November 1923, shortly before his retirement. He died in December 1939.

Sold with a quantity of original documentation, including the recipient’s pre-attestation recruit’s form; warrants appointing him to the rank of Sergeant-Major and Quarter-Master (1898 and 1914); his M.I.D. certificates for French’s despatch, dated 14 January 1915, and Haig’s despatches, dated 30 April 1916, 8 November 1918 and 16 March 1919; and an old copy of General Rawlinson’s letter recommending him for advancement to Q.M. and Major, dated 5 May 1915.