Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Lieutenant J. F. Parrott, 17th (County of London) Battalion (Poplar and Stepney Rifles), London Regiment, late 1st (City of London) Battalion (Royal Fusiliers), London Regiment, who served in the Army underage from the age of 15 and was appointed to a commission on account of his leadership on the front line

British War and Victory Medals (229704 Pte. J. F. Parrott. 1-Lond. R.) nearly extremely fine (2) £100-£140

Jack Francis Parrott was born on 25 January 1900, the son of mercantile traveller John William Robert Parrott of Wallingford. For details of his brief life, the best source appears to be the obituary published in the The Berks and Oxon Advertiser on 21 March 1924:
'Death of Mr. J. F. Parrott. -It is with feelings of great regret we record the death of Mr. Jack Francis Parrott of "Perrivale," Wantage Road, Wallingford, which occurred in the Cottage Hospital at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at the early age of 24 years. The news of his untimely death came as a very great shock to everybody. Mr. Parrott was unwell in the afternoon of the 12th last, and was compelled to take to his bed on Thursday night. His condition on Saturday was so grave that it was thought advisable to remove him to Cottage Hospital, where, the same night, he was operated on for acute-appendicitis by Dr. G. McMullan. Complications set in; the serious nature of his condition was realised from the very outset, and his relatives were prepared for the end, which came on Tuesday night as stated. 

Widespread sympathy has been extended to the young widow and her relatives and also to deceased's father and relatives. Deceased was the second son of Mr. J. W. R. Parrott and the late Mrs. [Emily] Parrott of Wallingford, and fought for King and Country in the Great War. At the age of 15.5 years he joined the 67th Divisional Cyclist Corps in September, 1915, and went over to France in October, 1917. He was subsequently transferred to the Fusiliers and was recommended for a Commission for taking a German post whilst a Corporal in charge of eight men. He returned home, passed his examination, and was duly gazetted. He returned to France with the 17th London Regiment in 1918, and was demobilised.’

Appointed to a commission on 24 September 1918, it appears that Parrott returned to France post-Armistice. Demobilised, he travelled home to Wallingford and married Miss Ruby Mabel Honeybone on 31 August 1921. He took employment locally with his father-in-law, who saw him as a 'conscientious and valuable assistant and future right-hand man', and the young Mr and Mrs Parrott soon became parents to a son. He died soon thereafter on 18 March 1924, leaving effects to the value of £476 12s. 7d. to his widow.