WW1 TWICE WOUNDED TERRITORIAL SERVICES WAR MEDAL 1974 PARSONS VILLERS BRETONNEUX

Offered is a Territorial Forces War Medal to Private Joseph Parsons, Gloucester Regiment, who was present near Villers Bretonneux on the 24/4/1918 when the first Tank versus Tank battle took place. It was also the first time that the Germans used tanks in offesnive operations against the Allies.

Territorial Force War Medal (1914-19), impressed named 1974 PTE. J. A. Parsons, GLOUC. R. Comes with copies service papers, M.I.C., medal roll, newspaper articles, war diary and history of the 1^st Worcestershire Regt at Villers Bretonneux.

Joseph Alfred Parsons was born on the 12/4/1897, he was working as a labourer when he enlisted into the 4^th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment (Territorial Force) for 4 years at Bristol on the 24/3/1914, service number 1974 (aged 17 years).

On the outbreak of the war, he served in England with the 2/4^th Battalion until the 24/5/16 when the unit landed in France as part of the 183rd Brigade, 61st (2nd South Midland) Division. He was given the new service number of 200293, on the 6/4/1917 the Battalion attacked at Fresnoy. D and B Coy advanced under artillery barrage at 9:10pm, Companies held up in the village by wire in front of the trenches, heavy rifle and MG fire. An attempt was made to cut the wire with artillery and stokes mortars, this proved ineffective and the line was consolidated in the village during the night about 300 yards from the enemy trench. Casualties 1 OR killed – 13 OR wounded. Parsons suffered a gunshot wound to the left arm during the attack.

He was evacuated to England 19/4/17 – 10/6/17, returning to France 11/6/17 – 25/10/17 when he was evacuated to England suffering from trench foot 26/10/17 – 1/4/1918. He returned to France 2/4/1918 and was transferred to the 1^st Worcestershire Regiment 4/4/1918 with a new service number 206208, marching in with a replacement draft of 1 officer and 174 men.

On the 19/4/1918 the Battalion was holding the line in front of Villers Bretonneux. They moved to the support trenches on the 20-22^nd. In the ensuring fighting Pte Parsons was gassed (Mustard gas) on the 25/4/1918 and evacuated to England 27/4/1918 – 20/11/1918.  He returned to France and the occupation of Germany 21/11/18 – 26/5/19. Home 27/5/1919 -23/6/1919 and demobilized at 22 years of age.

The 1939 census records him as living in Bristol and a A.R.P member, he died in 1980 at Bristol.