Corporal 1056 Henry T Parker 1/24th Regiment

"FARNHAM Town and District Jottings. Mr H. Parker of 9 Park Road, an ex sergeant of the 24th Foot who is a survivor of the Rorke's Drift episode in the Zulu war is in hospital as the result of a fall. He is 81."

West Sussex Gazette - Thursday 29 January 1925

This could be either 1056 Henry Parker 1/24th 1877-78-79 clasp or 1722 H Parker 2/24th 1879 clasp.
Neither, to the best of my knowledge, being at RD

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Mr. 1056 Henry Parker
(January, 1929)

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Dundee Evening Telegraph - Friday 03 January 1930

Thats a cracking picture. Thanks Andy.

Appears to have had a middle name starting with 'T'

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Surrey Advertiser - Monday 01 January 1917

Shown as Harry here
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West Sussex Gazette - Thursday 04 January 1917

And yet, going back to the initial posting of a cutting, Parker had no connexion to Rorke's Drift.

Yeah its strange Julian reading that last newspaper article.
I know he is not on any of the medal rolls for the action at the Drift and I'm not saying he was there.

However if the story is true, bearing in mind he was serving as steward to the HQ staff during the Autumn manouvres and thus surrounded by high ranking military men who, you would assume, would know if he was telling the truth about RD or not, would they  have then recommeded Parker to the King of all people if he didn't take part in the action?

King" So tell me Mr Parker you were one of those gallent few who fought like devils throughout the night?"
Parker "Well actually err no sir I just turned up the next morning and helped clear up the mess"

Wouldn't look good for those who recommeded him would it?

Anyway idle musings, I'm not saying anything one way or the other but it is a little odd.
Of course that could just be the story Parker told the journalist.
Julian if someone took part in the action at RD is it shown as a sepearte action on a persons military record?

Presented to the King and no doubt about this one.

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Westminster Gazette - Thursday 17 May 1917

So you know everything - why doesn’t it say on Parker's Military History Sheet (image 4 of service papers) 'present at Rorke's Drift'  - see example page 372 of 'The Noble 24th' and the papers for Pte Robert Jones VC -

Wassell 80th MI was at Isandlwana not RD. Saved Pte Westwood 80th at Fugitives' Drift crossing the Buffalo River.

Quote "So you know everything"
No I don't which is why I asked Julian for an answer about RD being mentioned on service papers.
Quote "why does it say on Parker's Military History Sheet (image 4 of service papers) 'present at Rorke's Drift"
Well Kenny unless my eyesight is going I can't see a reference to RD

Kenny just what is your problem son? Why do you keep attacking me with these snide remarks? What have I done to you?

I'm trying to support the forum here, provide interesting things for people to read and help others with their research. You are obviously just happy to sit back whinging, moaning and criticising

I mean do you even bother to read any of the previous posts before posting your own thoughts?
Obviously not looking at your last entry.
Go back and read my post of 4.24pm.
I am discussing men being presented to the King and the reasons for them being chosen.
Now look at my next post about Wassell.
Oh look he is presented to the King. Now what are the coincidences of that?

Of course I  knew Wassel wasn't at RD and if you read my post you will see I stated in bold that Parker was NOT at RD. I put it in bold specifically so that you would notice it and still you didn't get the message.
Wassell was presented to the King because he won the VC. Do you see Kenny, do you get it, is the penny starting to drop?
I was just thinking out loud about the reasons behind Parker being chosen for that honour in the article and perhaps stimulating some discussion of the forum.

I'm not an expert on the 24th Regiment and I am happy to learn from those who are but its easy for you to sit there and spout off all this information about the 24th when you have/had such close links with Brecon museum and all its archives at your fingertips.
Though I suppose I could always take your book off my bookshelf and .....oh hang on there isn't one.

I've tried to put your previous remarks behind me and re engage in a polite way but to be honest I'm fed up with trying to reason with you now and from now on for the good of the forum will engage with you no longer.
Admin as far as I am concerned this will go no further.

Kate
You are quite right in saying that he does not appear on any of the rolls of defenders (contemporary or later).
Both Parkers information is below:
PARKER Henry (Harry) – Private – 25B/1722 – 2nd/24th
Service details: Arrived in South Africa with draft from 25th Brigade Depot Brecon, Brecknockshire 20/6/1879.
South Africa Medal 1877-8-9 with clasp 1879.
He is not your man.
PARKER Henry – Corporal – 1-24/1056 – 1st/24th
Born Bungay, Suffolk, England c.1846.
Parents Henry Frances Parker a Currier.
Married Edrada Mayano (Margaret) Edwards born Gibraltar in the Mediterranean c.1856 at King’s Chapel, Gibraltar 10/8/1874.
Attested London 24/9/1864.
Promoted to Sergeant no date.
Serving at St. Botolph Camp, Colchester, Essex c. April 1881 aged 35 years.
Continued service with the South Wales Borderers 1/7/1881.
Applied for discharge after three months notice.
Discharged Aldershot, Hampshire 31/1/1890 after 25 years 130 days service 13 years 2 days service abroad.
South Africa Medal 1877-8-9 with clasp 1877-8-9. Long Service Good Conduct Medal 1830 awarded 1/1/1884.
The latter is definitely your man.
He may well have been steward to HQ staff in Farnham in 1917 but his problem was that once he had said that he was 'at RD' it's not something he could very easily have gone back on.  From his point of view, who else was around in 1917 in Farnham that could gainsay his story?  It was a risk worth taking or perhaps he had no choice.  There is certainly no reason why the surrounding high ranking military men would know if Parker was telling the truth about RD or not.  He was a waiter and they would have no access to his service papers.  Perhaps Parker just chose to bluff it out OR he stated as a simple fact the circumstances under which he really DID find himself at RD (i.e. as a member of LC's returning column).  There would be no shame in that and technically he was telling the truth.
If someone took part in the action at RD it is generally shown separately on a persons military record but not always. To be fair, Kenny would be better informed about how often this WAS the case, than I am.
The problem is here there is absolutely nothing else to back up his claim (if claim there was) that he was an RD defender.
A researcher has to give the rolls credence.  And of course there are plenty of other men who said they were at RD and told it to journalists but luckily never had to confront the king!

Kate,

Sorry, I was a long day for me and I was confused. Surely the Wassall story should have been posted under a separate topic heading 'Those AZW vets who have met the King (or Queen)' not under the 'Parker story -  query RD'.  Sorry, again.

Apology accepted Kenny thank you and we move on.
Thanks Julian for your informative repsonse

Posted purely because it provides a family background for Mr Parker

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West Surrey Times - Friday 25 January 1918

Interesting that this report says "disaster"...was it confusing RD with Isandhlwana, did Parker forget his story on that occasion????

Yeah good point