Acting Sergt. 35055 Reginald Ernest Parry, 15th Battn. The Welsh Regt., died of wounds at 131 Field Ambulance, Contalmaison, Somme on 28 August 1918, aged 24 years.

Reginald Ernest Parry was born in Stonehouse, Gloucestershire on 28 September 1893, son of John Parry and Jane (Stephens). His father originated in Llanelly and his mother in Drybrook. The family came to Bilson Green, Cinderford around 1900. His father worked as a collier but later as a clay potter for Healey & Co., Hawkwell Brickworks. He attended Bilson School and Double View School after which he worked as a brick maker at Hawkwell Brickworks. Sometime after 1911 the family moved to live at 9, Oxford Street, Nantgarw and Reginald Parry took up employment at Nantgarw Collieries as an electrician.

On 27 and 28 August 1918 15th Welsh attacked German positions in the area of Flers and the west edge of Delville Wood, Logueval. Many prisoners and machine guns were captured and the battalion consolidated its gains. Sergt. Reginald Ernest Parry was wounded during this action and was taken back to 131 Field Ambulance at Contalmaison where he died. He was buried in Contalmaison Chateau Cemetery, Contalmaison, Somme.

Date of Death
Died 28 August 1918

Buried or commemorated at
CONTALMAISON CHATEAU CEMETERY
I. B. 39.
France

I believe he is remembered on the Cinderford War Memorial
and St Marys Church (WMR 6801) Nantgarw Mid Glam

Reginald Ernest Parry - son of John and Jane Parry

A young man of extremely happy promise,
Sgt Reginald Ernest Parry has, after three
Years of devoted and excellent service laid
Down his greatest gift on behalf of the dear
Homeland and the cause his country has
Espoused. He was the fifth son of Mr. and
Mrs. John Parry, now of Nantgarw and
Formerly of Cinderford. He was a scholar of
Double View School and also of the Wesley
Sunday School, and from his earliest days he
Was beloved and honoured by everyone who]
Knew him, and his untimely death has awakened
The deepest sorrow among those who have
Been privileged with his acquaintance. When
He joined the forces he was employed as an
Electrician in the Natntgarw Collieries, near
Cardiff. He made excellent progress in the
Army as will be gathered from the rank he
Had attained and was physically a fine young fellow.
He was a good son, quiet in manner, conscientious
And kind. During the conflict in France
With the Welsh Regiment, he had passed safely
Through much hard fighting, but now he has
Been called upon to share with so many of his
fellows in the honour of the great and true
sacrifice in his 25th year.

The following letters were received –
“Sir With reference to your letter of the 24th inst
I beg to convey the deepest sympathy of all the
Company with you and your parents in the loss
Of Sgt Parry R.E.. I might say that Sgt
Parry was severely wounded in the
Glorious advance of the Welsh on August 28th
He was carried back to the field ambulance, but
It seems he died of his wounds the same day
He was patient and calm to the last, and we all
Regretted the death of such a gentleman as
He proved to be all the time serving with the
Company. Should you communicate with the
Authorities of the 131 Field Ambulance they
Might inform you of any message left by Sgt
Parry during his las moments. Please accept
The deepest sympathy of all here in your great
Loss I remain Capt G Owen”

“My Dear Mrs Parry It is with deep regret
I write to you about your dear and brave son
And am extremely sorry I am not able to convey ad
But bad news. As you have not heard from
Him for some time no doubt you are wondering
What has happened to him. Our battalion has
Been fighting hard during the last month and
Has achieved wonderful results but alas ! we
Have lost many of our brave lads in this adventure
And your dear son is one of them. Am
Not able to say the exact day he was killed as
As we only keep records of killed and the date
Is often overlooked when there has been severe fighting
Going on. He was buried the following day
Alongside many of his comrades. The
Commanding officer and all his officers in this
Company wish to convey their sincere sympathy.
He is greatly missed as his services were most
Valuable, admired by everybody and considered
A wise sober and kid hearted man. He
Played his part well and died for the sake of
Righteousness. This alone is enough to take
His soul to a place of refreshment and peace
Where the saints of God rest from labours. He
is gone to a far better land out of all pain and
horrors of war and at perfect peace with God
and man. My dear Mrs Parry accept my
sincerest sympathy and share in your terrible
sorrow May God bless you and give you
strength to endure this terrible blow I remain
yours sorrowfully moved D Davies Chaplain “

This letter was sent in answer to an enquiry
From his brother Mr. William Parry Rhondda
Valley :-

“Dear Friend, In reply to your
letter attached the only further information
possible is that your brother was wounded in
the chest and right thigh by shell near
xxxxxxx and died in the main dressing
station of 131 Ambulance. He died without
regaining consciousness and was buried in the
cemetery at xxxxxxx 28/8/18 We can
only add that everyone of this company was
deeply grieved at losing a brave comrade and
a splendid NCO With sincere sympathy
your faithfully Charle L Perry Major, Senior Chaplain”

Census trail

1911 Foundry Lane Cinderford,
John Parry Head Married Male 59 1852 Potter clay potterist Llunelly Breconshire
Jane Parry Wife Married Female 55 1856 Housewife Drybrook Glos
Oliver Parry Son Single Male 24 1887 Collier hewer Longhope Glos
Emily Parry Daughter Single Female 19 1892 - Longhope Glos
Reginald Parry Son Single Male 17 1894 Brickmaker Stonehouse Glos
Hubert Parry Son Single Male 13 1898 Schoolboy Taynton Glos
Doris Parry Daughter - Female 9 1902 School girl Cinderford Glos

1901 Bilson Green
John Parry Head Married Male 49 1852 Coal miner (pumpman) under gd Llanelly, Carmarthenshire, Wales
Jane Parry Wife Married Female 46 1855 - East Dean, Gloucestershire, England
Marian Parry Daughter Single Female 21 1880 - East Dean, Gloucestershire, England
William Parry Son Single Male 19 1882 Coal miner (filler) under gd East Dean, Gloucestershire, England
Oliver Parry Son Single Male 14 1887 - Longhope, Gloucestershire, England
Jane Parry Daughter Single Female 13 1888 - Longhope, Gloucestershire, England
Annie Parry Daughter Single Female 11 1890 - Longhope, Gloucestershire, England
Emily Parry Daughter Single Female 9 1892 - Longhope, Gloucestershire, England
Reginald Parry Son Single Male 7 1894 - Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, England
Ralph Parry Son Single Male 3 1898 - Taynton, Gloucestershire, England
Mabel Millwater Visitor Single Female 12 1889 - East Dean, Gloucestershire, England

Births Dec 1893 (>99%)
Parry Reginald Ernest Stroud 6a 302 (stonehouse)

1891 Mill House, Furnace Mill Road, Longhope
John Parry Head Married Male 38 1853 Red ware potter Llanelly, Breconshire, Wales
Jane Parry Wife Married Female 36 1855 - Dymock, Gloucestershire, England
Laura S Parry Daughter - Female 13 1878 Scholar Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England
Marian R Parry Daughter - Female 11 1880 Scholar Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England
William J Parry Son - Male 9 1882 Scholar Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England
Arthur G Parry Son - Male 7 1884 Scholar Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England
Tom Parry Son - Male 5 1886 Scholar Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England
Oliver G Parry Son - Male 4 1887 - Longhope, Gloucestershire, England
Jane E Parry Daughter - Female 3 1888 - Longhope, Gloucestershire, England
Esther A Parry Daughter - Female 1 1890 - Longhope, Gloucestershire, England

1881 5, Victoria Cottages, Hempstead, Gloucester,
John Parry Head Married Male 29 1852 Potter Llanelly, Breconshire, Wales
Jane Parry Wife Married Female 26 1855 Potters wife Drybrook, Gloucestershire, England
Laura Sarah Parry Daughter Single Female 3 1878 - Gloucestershire, England
Maria Rose Parry Daughter Single Female 1 1880 -

Marriages Sep 1877 (>99%)
Parry John Westbury S. 6a 397
Stephens Jane Westbury S. 6a 397

Mother Jane ???? looks like Lydney rather than Cinderford/Drybrook

1861 Bilson Green, East dean,
Thomas Stephens Head Married Male 30 1831 Journeyman blacksmith City, Gloucestershire, England
Easter Stephens Wife Married Female 39 1822 - East Dean, Gloucestershire, England
Jane Stephens Daughter Unmarried Female 6 1855 Scholar Sydney, Gloucestershire, England
Sarah Stephens Daughter Unmarried Female 3 1858 Scholar Gloucestershire, England
Louisa Stephens Daughter Unmarried Female 0 1861 - Aylburton, Gloucestershire, England
George Stephens Brother Unmarried Male 26 1835 Shoemaker Allerston, Gloucestershire, England