The son of Robert Grainger Parker and Eva Parker, he was born in Elsternwick, Victoria on 26 September 1892. He attended Essendon State School.[1] He married Jessie Parker (she remarried after the war and became Mrs. Cumming). At the time of his enlistment, he gave his occupation as warehouseman.
Footballer
During the latter part of the 1911 season, the St. Kilda Football Club and its off-field operations, and its on-field performances were very seriously affected by a players' strike due to protracted disputes with the committee relating to its (mis-)management of club affairs.
Due to the sudden decisions of various played not to play in a particular match, the club used a total of 62 players that season,[2] the most ever used in a single season by a VFL club. This indicates that, given Parker only played towards the end of the season (rounds 9. 13, and 14), he may not have been selected at all if all of the regular players were available.
When measured on his enlistment in the army in 1915, he was 5 ft 9in tall, and weighed 13 stone.
Recruited from the Essendon District Football League, aged 18, Parker played his first senior VFL match for St Kilda, against Collingwood, at Victoria Park on 17 June 1911.[3] He played his second, against Fitzroy, at the Junction Oval, on 15 July 1911.[4]
He played the last of his three VFL senior matches against Melbourne on 22 July, at the Junction Oval. The St Kilda team were so late taking the field that some thought they were not going to play at all. Apart from Wels Eicke, the St Kilda team were hopeless. Heckled, booed, and taunted by the crowd after the match as he was leaving the ground, the St Kilda captain of the day, Harry Lever, had to be restrained from climbing the fence and dealing with the barrackers.[5] Parker's hopes for a fourth match were no doubt dashed by his elementary error of mistaking the behind posts for the goal posts:
[One bright feature of an otherwise dismal day] was the ludicrous mistake made by Parker, a St. Kilda forward, who was so entirely alone when he got the ball in front that he might have crawled to the goal line, but who from the distance of a few yards mistook the opening and kicked a behind, amidst much shouting.
— The Argus, Monday, 24 July 1911.
Oarsman
He was a well known oarsman, and was a member of the Civil Service Rowing Club.[6][7]
Military service
Prior to his enlistment on 11 October 1915, Parker had 3½ years experience in the Citizen's Military Force.
Parker was promoted to Second Lieutenant on 21 February 1916.
Death
He was badly wounded in action with the 37th Infantry Battalion of the 3rd Division of the AIF, during a trench raid in France on the night of 29 January 1917, when he was struck in the groin by German machine gun fire.
He was lying in a shell hole, and was too badly wounded to be carried back to the Australian lines. The entire stretcher party that had gone to retrieve him were shot down before they could reach the shell-hole; and, by the time a patrolling party could reach the site, Parker was no longer there.
He was taken prisoner by the Germans, and was admitted to the Bavarian Field Hospital, Lambersart, Lille, France. He died of his wounds in the German hospital the next day.[8]
Remembrance
Buried at the Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix, France, Parker is commemorated in a two-panel memorial window installed at St. Johns Uniting Church, at the corner of Mount Alexander Road and Buckley Street, Essendon ("In Loving Memory of Lieut Harold Carlyle Parker, 27th Battln, Died of wounds within the German Lines at Armentieres, 30th Jany 1917, aged 25 years. Thy Will be done".).[9]
^Australians Abroad: Casualties (Obituary), The Argus, (Tuesday, 1 May 1917), p.6.
^Died on Service: Parker, The Argus, (Tuesday, 1 May 1917), p.1.
^"Memorial Windows and other Memorials of St. Johns Uniting Church, Essendon, Established as St. John Presbyterian Church 1852" (PDF). stjohnsessendon.org.au.
References
Group portrait of officers of the 37th Battalion before the Battalion left for France in November 1916, collection of the Australian War Memorial.
First World War Nominal Roll: Second Lieutenant Harold Carlyle Parker, collection of the Australian War Memorial.
First World War Service Record: Second Lieutenant Harold Carlyle Parker, National Archives of Australia.
Australian War Memorial: Red Cross Wounded and Missing Records: Second Lieutenant Harold Carlyle Parker
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour: Harold Carlyle Parker
External links
Harold Parker's playing statistics from AFL Tables
August 18, 2023
harold, parker, footballer, harold, carlyle, parker, september, 1892, january, 1917, australian, rules, footballer, played, with, kilda, victorian, football, league, died, wounds, received, active, service, france, world, harold, parkerpersonal, informationful. Harold Carlyle Parker 26 September 1892 30 January 1917 was an Australian rules footballer who played with St Kilda in the Victorian Football League VFL He died of wounds received in active service in France in World War I Harold ParkerPersonal informationFull nameHarold Carlyle ParkerDate of birth26 September 1892Place of birthElsternwick VictoriaDate of death30 January 1917 1917 01 30 aged 24 Place of deathArmentieres FranceOriginal team s Essendon DistrictPlaying career1YearsClubGames Goals 1911St Kilda3 1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1911 Sources AFL Tables AustralianFootball com Contents 1 Family 2 Footballer 3 Oarsman 4 Military service 5 Death 6 Remembrance 7 See also 8 Footnotes 9 References 10 External linksFamily EditThe son of Robert Grainger Parker and Eva Parker he was born in Elsternwick Victoria on 26 September 1892 He attended Essendon State School 1 He married Jessie Parker she remarried after the war and became Mrs Cumming At the time of his enlistment he gave his occupation as warehouseman Footballer EditDuring the latter part of the 1911 season the St Kilda Football Club and its off field operations and its on field performances were very seriously affected by a players strike due to protracted disputes with the committee relating to its mis management of club affairs Due to the sudden decisions of various played not to play in a particular match the club used a total of 62 players that season 2 the most ever used in a single season by a VFL club This indicates that given Parker only played towards the end of the season rounds 9 13 and 14 he may not have been selected at all if all of the regular players were available When measured on his enlistment in the army in 1915 he was 5 ft 9in tall and weighed 13 stone Recruited from the Essendon District Football League aged 18 Parker played his first senior VFL match for St Kilda against Collingwood at Victoria Park on 17 June 1911 3 He played his second against Fitzroy at the Junction Oval on 15 July 1911 4 He played the last of his three VFL senior matches against Melbourne on 22 July at the Junction Oval The St Kilda team were so late taking the field that some thought they were not going to play at all Apart from Wels Eicke the St Kilda team were hopeless Heckled booed and taunted by the crowd after the match as he was leaving the ground the St Kilda captain of the day Harry Lever had to be restrained from climbing the fence and dealing with the barrackers 5 Parker s hopes for a fourth match were no doubt dashed by his elementary error of mistaking the behind posts for the goal posts One bright feature of an otherwise dismal day was the ludicrous mistake made by Parker a St Kilda forward who was so entirely alone when he got the ball in front that he might have crawled to the goal line but who from the distance of a few yards mistook the opening and kicked a behind amidst much shouting The Argus Monday 24 July 1911 Oarsman EditHe was a well known oarsman and was a member of the Civil Service Rowing Club 6 7 Military service EditPrior to his enlistment on 11 October 1915 Parker had 3 years experience in the Citizen s Military Force Parker was promoted to Second Lieutenant on 21 February 1916 Death EditHe was badly wounded in action with the 37th Infantry Battalion of the 3rd Division of the AIF during a trench raid in France on the night of 29 January 1917 when he was struck in the groin by German machine gun fire He was lying in a shell hole and was too badly wounded to be carried back to the Australian lines The entire stretcher party that had gone to retrieve him were shot down before they could reach the shell hole and by the time a patrolling party could reach the site Parker was no longer there He was taken prisoner by the Germans and was admitted to the Bavarian Field Hospital Lambersart Lille France He died of his wounds in the German hospital the next day 8 Remembrance EditBuried at the Rue Petillon Military Cemetery Fleurbaix France Parker is commemorated in a two panel memorial window installed at St Johns Uniting Church at the corner of Mount Alexander Road and Buckley Street Essendon In Loving Memory of Lieut Harold Carlyle Parker 27th Battln Died of wounds within the German Lines at Armentieres 30th Jany 1917 aged 25 years Thy Will be done 9 See also EditList of Victorian Football League players who died in active serviceFootnotes Edit Military Promotions The Argus Thursday 14 December 1916 p 10 nla gov au VFL list of players used by St Kilda in 1911 afltables com Mud at Victoria Park The Argus Monday 19 June 1911 p 5 nla gov au Fitzroy Victorious St Kilda s Collapse The Argus Monday 17 July 1911 p5 nla gov au St Kilda s Troubles Team and Committee Half Hearted Game The Argus Monday 24 July 1911 p 5 nla gov au Rowing Ballarat Annual Regatta Senior Pairs Monday 15 February 1915 p 5 nla gov au Australians Abroad Casualties Obituary The Argus Tuesday 1 May 1917 p 6 Died on Service Parker The Argus Tuesday 1 May 1917 p 1 Memorial Windows and other Memorials of St Johns Uniting Church Essendon Established as St John Presbyterian Church 1852 PDF stjohnsessendon org au References EditGroup portrait of officers of the 37th Battalion before the Battalion left for France in November 1916 collection of the Australian War Memorial First World War Nominal Roll Second Lieutenant Harold Carlyle Parker collection of the Australian War Memorial First World War Service Record Second Lieutenant Harold Carlyle Parker National Archives of Australia Australian War Memorial Red Cross Wounded and Missing Records Second Lieutenant Harold Carlyle Parker Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour Harold Carlyle ParkerExternal links EditHarold Parker s playing statistics from AFL Tables Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Harold Parker footballer amp oldid 1128044559, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
