Find Ancestors

I am looking for information on 3 brothers who were in the regiment. Drum Major Henry James Parsons, Drum Major William Henry Parsons and Charles Edward Parsons. Ancestry isn't helping and I know that Find My Past has the surrey Recruitment Registers but Im not a member. Would it be worth purchasing credits? Can anyone help?

William Henry and Henry James were also I believe, later in the RAF

Does this match Henry James?

Surrey Recruitment Registers 1908-1933
Print Close

First Name(s):H J

Last Name:Parsons

Unit:East Surrey Regiment

Series:Volunteers, 5th January 1915 - 27th April 1915

Regiment:East Surrey Regiment

Reference:2496 / 2

Page number:59

Age:23 Years 0 Months

Height:5ft 6.75in.

Weight (pounds):144

Chest size (inches):37.5

Chest Expansion (inches):2.5

Eye colour:

Hair colour:

Distinctive marks:

Occupation:Porter

Birthplace:Mortlake

County:Surrey

Attestation date:25 January 1915

Attestation place:Kingston

Remarks:1 Hampton Sq Mortlake

Notes:Volunteers. This recruitment register has '' C'' and '' D of W'' [Duration of War] written on the spine, indicating that this was for men who were enlisting for General Service for the Duration of War only.

William Henry perhaps?

Surrey Recruitment Registers 1908-1933
Print Close

First Name(s):W H

Last Name:Parsons

Number:6634

Unit:Royal Flying Corps

Series:Derby Scheme men, 16th August 1916 - 8th December 1916

Regiment:Royal Flying Corps

Reference:2496 / 10

Page number:3

Age:18 Years 4 Months

Height:5ft 4in.

Weight (pounds):114

Chest size (inches):34

Chest Expansion (inches):2

Eye colour:

Hair colour:

Distinctive marks:

Occupation:Clerk

Birthplace:Swindon

County:

Attestation date:12 December 1915

Attestation place:Wandsworth

Remarks:Red Lion Hotel Radlett Herts

Notes:Derby Scheme men. Groups and C2 is written on the cover and Groups 6 written on the spine. Dates and recruitment centres covered are: Wandsworth, 16th August 1916 to 8th December 1916, Kingston, 30th August 1916 to 8th December 1916. Recruitment numbers are not entered sequentially and range between 6489 and 12469.

Charles Edward?

Surrey Recruitment Registers 1908-1933
Print Close

First Name(s):C E

Last Name:Parsons

Unit:Royal Field Artillery

Series:Volunteers, 31st August 1914 - 4th January 83752

Regiment:Royal Field Artillery

Reference:2496 / 44

Page number:85

Age:20 Years 0 Months

Height:5ft 5in.

Weight (pounds):132

Chest size (inches):37

Chest Expansion (inches):3

Eye colour:

Hair colour:

Distinctive marks:

Occupation:Gardener

Birthplace:Cranleigh

County:

Attestation date:18 February 1918

Attestation place:

Remarks:

Notes:Conscripted men. Recruitment register: 'Other corps, Guildford' on title page and '2nd Regimental District' on pages inside. The eyes, hair and distinctive marks columns are variously used to indicate marital status, medical category and 'sub area'. From 10 Jun 1918, the regimental number, address and any reference for 'authority for posting', are also given, but place of birth and attestation details disappear. Recruitment numbersR11457-R17441. Indexed. At the end of the volume a memorandum states 'Guildford Reception Depot closed 20.10.18. Amalgamated with Kingston. See Eastern Command orders Dated 19.10.18, Auth. W.O Letter No.27/Gen No./6577 (AG 13 4) Dated 2.10.18.'
Transcriptions © The Surrey History Trust

Are these what you are looking for??

Surrey Recruitment Registers1908-1933
useful links & resources

subscription options
getting started
search birth, marriage and death records
search census records

Printer friendly version
Transcription page details

First Name(s):H J

Last Name:Parsons

Unit:East Surrey Regiment

Series:Volunteers, 5th January 1915 - 27th April 1915

Regiment:East Surrey Regiment

Reference:2496 / 2

Page number:59

Age:23 Years 0 Months

Height:5ft 6.75in.

Weight (pounds):144

Chest size (inches):37.5

Chest Expansion (inches):2.5

Eye colour:

Hair colour:

Distinctive marks:

Occupation:Porter

Birthplace:Mortlake

County:Surrey

Attestation date:25 January 1915

Attestation place:Kingston

Remarks:1 Hampton Sq Mortlake

Notes:Volunteers. This recruitment register has '' C'' and '' D of W'' [Duration of War] written on the spine, indicating that this was for men who were enlisting for General Service for the Duration of War only.
Transcriptions © The Surrey History Trust




Surrey Recruitment Registers1908-1933
useful links & resources

subscription options
getting started
search birth, marriage and death records
search census records

Printer friendly version
Transcription page details

First Name(s):W H

Last Name:Parsons

Number:6634

Unit:Royal Flying Corps

Series:Derby Scheme men, 16th August 1916 - 8th December 1916

Regiment:Royal Flying Corps

Reference:2496 / 10

Page number:3

Age:18 Years 4 Months

Height:5ft 4in.

Weight (pounds):114

Chest size (inches):34

Chest Expansion (inches):2

Eye colour:

Hair colour:

Distinctive marks:

Occupation:Clerk

Birthplace:Swindon

County:

Attestation date:12 December 1915

Attestation place:Wandsworth

Remarks:Red Lion Hotel Radlett Herts

Notes:Derby Scheme men. Groups and C2 is written on the cover and Groups 6 written on the spine. Dates and recruitment centres covered are: Wandsworth, 16th August 1916 to 8th December 1916, Kingston, 30th August 1916 to 8th December 1916. Recruitment numbers are not entered sequentially and range between 6489 and 12469.


Dea x

Thanks so much for looking at those Dea and alviegal, they are the records I thought would be related to the brothers on FMP, but seeing the info you have managed to add it looks as though this isnt them after all. All three were born in Plumstead and were career army men. I dont know why they are proving so elusive!

Thanks again!

What dates are we looking at Flicky?Do you know when they were born?

Hi alviegal, Henry James is 1899, charles Edward 1901 and William Henry 1894. Their father was called Arthur.
Thanks :)

Most of the info I have is taken from this obituary for William Henry (he is the brother I have a bit of info on)
"There can have been few more loyal and devoted Queen's men than William Henry Parsons. Few indeed can have had longer service. Enlisting as a trumpeter in the Royal Field Artillery in 1911, he left the Service as a Bandmaster in 1959. His career was as varied as it was long.
'Clergy' Parsons, one of three brothers in The Regiment joined the Queen's in September, 1911. He served in the 1914-18 War in the 1st and 2nd Bns. and was three times wounded. In 1919 he was transferred as Sergeant Drummer in the Loyals. On completion of this first period of Colour service, Drum Major Parsons left the Army in 1921; and two months later joined the Royal Air Force. He served for no less than 25 years with the R.A.F. and left as a Bandmaster in 1949. Although 55 yerars old with 37 years Regular service to his credit, Mr. Parsons immediately joined the Hertfordshire Regiment and served as a Territorial bandmaster for another 10 years.
."

So this is them for reference only.


1911 census transcription details for: 29 Barnfield Road Plumstead Kent
Print Close

National Archive Reference:

RG14PN2891 RG78PN99 RD30 SD3 ED9 SN451
Reg. District: Woolwich
Sub District: Plumstead West
Parish: Plumstead
Enum. District: 9
Address: 29 Barnfield Road Plumstead Kent
County: London
Name Relation Condition/
Yrs married Sex Age Birth Year Occupation Where Born
PARSONS, Arthur Head Married M 42 1869 Machinist R L Woolwich Arsenal Plumstead Kent
PARSONS, Catherine Wife Married
21 years F 41 1870 Mhow India Resident
PARSONS, Gertrude Daughter Single F 19 1892 Plumstead Kent
>>PARSONS, William Son Single M 16 1895 House Painter Plumstead Kent
PARSONS, Helen Daughter F 14 1897 House Maid Domestic Plumstead Kent
>>PARSONS, Henry Son M 11 1900 School Plumstead Kent
>>PARSONS, Charles Son M 9 1902 School Plumstead Kent
PARSONS, Dorothy Daughter F 7 1904 School Plumstead Kent
PARSONS, Edith Daughter F 5 1906 School Plumstead Kent

If they were career soldiers then you probably will not find their service records online, Service records for soldiers who continued to serve after 1920 are still held by the MOD

http://www.veterans-uk.info/service_records/army.html

Roy

Thats them alviegal!
Ahh ok Roy, thanks, that could explain the lack of leads!