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Memorial to Percy Swinburne Parker, and family vault, in the graveyard at St James' Church, Haslingden, Lancashire.



On Friday afternoon last, as indicated in Friday's issue of the "Haslingden Guardian," there occurred an interesting ceremony in connection with the departure of Haslingden Volunteers for active service in South Africa. Possibly, on account of the wearing off of the novelty, the proceedings were far less demonstrative than the case on the occasion of the previous send-off, but for all that there was a considerable display of enthusiasm.

The 2nd Batt. of the E. Lancashire Volunteers are furnishing 56 men and two officers for South Africa. the I Co., Haslingden, are supplying six men and one officer towards that number, these being Privates F. Chew, A. Fitton, R. Heys, J. Maudsley (who were members of the "waiting company"), T. W. Ashworth, and J. Ratcliffe, and Lieut. Parker. This makes seventeen men and two officers which the company have supplied for South Africa since the war commenced. Lieut. Parker has been taking duty at the Preston depot for some time.

The Haslingden Guardian, Friday 22nd February 1901




Captain Parker, who died at Heilbron on Saturday, as recorded in our issue on Tuesday, was a son of Mr. Thomas Parker, cotton manufacturer, Haslingden.

Lancashire Daily Post, Wednesday 5th February 1902
We deeply regret to have to announce the death, from enteric fever, of Captain Percy Swinburne Parker, of Haslingden. He was an officer of the 1st East Lancashire Regiment, and was with Bruce Hamilton's column near Tafelkop when stricken down. Captain Parker was in the very prime of his manhood - healthy, handsome, genial; beloved by all, and the news of his untimely death has evoked widespread sympathy. He is the eldest son of Mr. Thomas Parker, of Bank View house, Haslingden, who is a member of the Board of Guardians, and a cotton manufacturer of repute, being a member of the firm of Carr, Parker, and Co. Captain Parker, who was only in his 25th year, joined the Haslingden Volunteers as Lieutenant in 1898, and volunteered for service in South Africa when General Buller was trying to force a passage across the Tugela for the relief of Ladysmith. After twelve months of garrison duty at home he again went to the front last February, and was gazetted captain while out in South Africa. He was as brave and handsome a young soldier as any Lancashire town has sent to the front, and the pity of it is that such a gallant young life should have been spent in such a thankless cause. On Wednesday evening the committee of the Haslingden Conservative Club decided to forward a letter of condolence with Mr. and Mrs. T. Parker on their sad bereavement. Captain Parker at the time he accepted garrison duty was just beginning to take an active interest in local politics, and in the two elections in Holden West preceding that time he rendered the Conservative party very valuable service. The club flag is at half-mast.



The many friends of Captain Parker were inexpressibly shocked to learn the mournful tidings of the fatal termination of his illness, and the communication from the War Authorities at Cape Town, which reached Haslingden on Monday afternoon, caused widespread sympathy with the bereaved parents and relatives. The announcement of Capt. Parker's dangerous illness was published in last week's "Echo" and "Guardian," so that our readers would not be altogether unprepared for the sad tidings from the front. The unwelcome cablegram was received at Bank View House, the residence of the Captain's parents, on Monday afternoon, and stated that Captain Parker died on Saturday. The telegram read: - "Regret to inform you that your son, Lieut. Parker, died at Heilbron, 1st inst. Enteric casualty." It is nearly twelve months since the Captain went to the front as lieutenant in the 1st East Lancashires, and he was with General Bruce Hamilton's column at Tafelkop. He had been a member of the Haslingden Company of Volunteers for about four years.

Percy Swinburne Parker was the eldest son of Mr. Thomas Parker, of Bank View House, Haslingden, who is a member of the Board of Guardians. Mr. Parker is a cotton manufacturer at Charles-lane Mill, the firm being known as Carr, Parker, and Co. Captain Parker was 25 years of age, and had been brought up ion the manufacturing business. He was well built, and in height was about 5ft. 10½ins. He joined the Haslingden Company of Volunteers as Lieutenant on the 6th of January, 1898, and volunteered for service in South Africa about the time General Buller was trying to force a passage across the Tugela, in his attempt to relieve Ladysmith. Subsequently Captain Parker had twelve months' garrison duty at Preston, and he went to the front as Lieutenant in February last. He was gazetted captain while in South Africa. The flags at Charles-lane Mill, and at the Drill Hall, are flying at half-mast, and Mr. Thomas Parker is assured of the universal sympathy of his fellow townspeople in the irreparable loss he has sustained.

The Haslingden Guardian, Friday 7th February 1902

Parker was subsequently buried at Heibron cemetery, his grave marked with a marble memorial, so many fell victim to enteric, a real killer during to war.

He's also remembered on Haslingden's ABW memorial.

Heilbron Cemetery