William Henry PARSONS, Lost at Sea during WWI. (General)

by Jefff , West London, Middlesex, Wednesday, June 05, 2013, 23:51 (4190 days ago) @ slowhands

While searching for "Cinderford" items on an internet auction site I spotted the Medals of a brave Great War seaman who died at sea. Personally I find it very sad when such personal items are for sale so I don't collect them and hope they stay within his family; however I thought the story may be of interest.

The Medals are the British War Medal & the Victory medal inscribed with
"W Z 2966 W H Parsons AB RNVR"

This general search page for the National Archives is a good start and highly recommended for searching all sorts of people, not just military.
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/default.htm
From this we can search the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve service records to find twelve different William Parsons served between 1903 and 1922.
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/s/res?discoveryCustomSearch=true&...

Fortunately the Medal gives us his Service Number WZ/2966, alone probably not unique but with his name we can find this Medal Card and more helpful details:

Reference:ADM 337/87/481
Description:Name Parsons, William Henry
Service Number: Z/2966
RNVR Division: Wales
Date of Birth: 14 August 1886

For a small payment actual images & perhaps more records may be obtained, which would appear to be the case here, as the sales website helpfully advises William Parsons was lost on April 5th, 1918, while serving aboard the British steamer SS Cyrene.

For more general information about the Medals awarded to William and his shipmates see
http://www.1914-1918.net/grandad/themedals.htm

---------------------------------------------------------

R.I.P. Able Seaman William Henry Parsons.

"On all the oceans
White caps flow
You do not see crosses
Row on Row
But those who sleep
Beneath the sea
Rest in Peace,
For your country is free."