Seven: Colonel F. R. Parkinson, Welsh Regiment: a veteran of the Sudan operations of 1888 and the First and Second Boer Wars, he commanded the 11th (Cardiff Pals) Battalion 1914-16, including a stint in the front line at Maricourt on the Somme, where he celebrated his 60th birthday

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated, 1 clasp, Gemaizah 1888 (Captain F. Russell Parkinson, 1st Bn. Welsh Rgt.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Major F. R. Parkinson, Welsh [R.]); 1914-15 Star (Bt. Col. F. R. Parkinson, Welsh R.); British War and Victory Medals (Bt. Col. F. R. Parkinson); Coronation 1937; Khedive’s Star, undated, the first two with contact marks, edge bruising and a little polished, otherwise generally very fine (7) £600-800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to Welsh Regiments formed by the Late Llewellyn Lord.

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Francis Russell “Parkie” Parkinson, who was born in Bath in July 1856, was appointed 2nd Lieutenant in the Welsh Regiment in October 1877, direct from the Royal Glamorgan Militia.

Advanced to Lieutenant in April 1879, he was present in operations with the Natal Field Force during the first Boer War in 1881, in which year he also acted as District Adjutant at Ladysmith. Having then gained advancement to Captain in August 1884, he was present with the 1st Battalion in the Sudan operations of 1888, including the action at Gemaizah (Medal & clasp; Khedive’s Star).

A recently promoted Major by the outbreak of hostilities in South Africa in October 1899, Parkinson commanded the 1st Battalion in the period August 1901 to March 1902, and was present he was present in operations in the Transvaal (Queen’s Medal & 3 clasps). Following his promotion to Lieutenant-Colonel, he resumed command of the 1st Battalion in the period 1904-08, and was given the brevet rank of Colonel. His final appointment was C.O. South Wales Infantry Brigade 1910-12 and he was placed on the Retired List in the latter year.

In September 1914, at the request of Lord Kitchener, Parkinson was appointed to the command of the 11th (Cardiff Pals) Battalion, a role in which he excelled. A popular C.O., he turned a blind eye to lots of petty misdemeanours during the battalion’s early training days and the Pals had only one word for him: ‘Gentleman’.

The Battalion was inspected by King George V and Lord Kitchener at Aldershot in August 1915, the latter being heard to comment, “These are a fine body of men, Colonel, I think we’ll have some news for you within a few days.” And so it came to pass, orders for embarkation to France being received on 4 September. Parkinson subsequently led his men on the Somme but at the year’s end, when the Battalion was ordered to Salonika, he was forced to stand down, the Macedonian climate being considered too difficult for a warrior of his advanced years:

‘Tears welled in his eyes as he stood by the gang-plank of the troopship Megantic at Marseilles to shake hands with the men of the 11th Welsh as they shuffled past him. They, in turn, knew they were losing the best friend they would ever have ... so they respected his grief’ (The Cardiff Pals, refers).

A regular attender at Cardiff Pals Association gatherings, Parkinson served as President until his death at Shanklin on the Isle of Wight in June 1937; sold with copied research.