TOPIC:

I'm currently reading 'Bayonets To Lhasa' by Peter Fleming, about the 1904 British expedition into Tibet. One man who's mentioned from time to time is Captain Randall Parr, who was employed by the China Maritime Customs Service, and who was based in Tibet. From their letters and diaries, some of the British officers who met Parr in Tibet "were impressed (as far as Regulars would allow themselves to be) by the fact that he had obtained special leave from the Chinese Customs to go and serve his Queen with a volunteer regiment of Mounted Infantry in the Boer War."

Who did he serve with in the ABW?

He's in this photo with General Macdonald, who was accepting the surrender of Gyantse, so Parr may be the man on the left on a light-coloured horse.

Hi Berenice

Captain William Randall McDonald Parr served in the 3rd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles


Regards

Dave.......

Excellent. Thank you very much, Dave.

Thanks for this interesting, though currently quite short, thread and apologies for joining so late. It seems that very little is known about Captain Parr and Internet searches return nothing at all, except for what is on this thread.

Does anyone know how or where more info might be found?

Captain William Randall McDonald Parr
1862 –
An Englishman who served in the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs Service in South Tibet and played a significant role in modernizing the Chinese customs administration during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Mentioned in relation to Younghusband’s British expedition into Tibet and offered his services as a Chinese resident in that region.
Went on to be commissioned into the Royal Irish Rifles and served in the Boer War, South Africa.

See Peter Fleming - Bayonets to Lhasa [1961]

When was he commissioned into the army?
Did he serve anywhere other than South Africa?
Where was he born?
Where and how did he die?
Did he make any specific achievements or was he well-known for anything other than his customs duties mentioned in Peter Fleming's book?

Thanks for any suggestions, pointers, advice or ideas.

Best regards to all.

William

Hello William
Welcome to the forum.
There are some details on Ancestry which may be of use.
I have attached a few snippets in regard to some of your questions.
Firstly the McDonald part of his name is recorded as McDonnell and he was born circa 1865. Emigrated to Canada.






Regards

Dave.....

Ps I will see if can find any more information on his military career.

William
The volume "Boer War Services of Military Officers, etc 1899-1902" simply tells us that he served with the Mounted Infantry as a Special Service Officer. South African War 1899-1901. Queen's Medal with four clasps.
There has been comment on SSOs (selection and duties) in previous posts on this site.
Regards
IL.