PARKER, Jeffrey Wimprey

“DOWLAIS DOCTOR KILLED - SHOT DOWN BY TURKS AT GALLIPOLI”

Lieutenant (Dr) Jeffrey Wimperis Parker (MRCS, LRCP, DPH), Royal Army Medical Corps (attached 11th Battalion Manchester Regiment)

Killed in Action on 7th August 1915

Remembered on the Helles Memorial, Turkey & also the University College Hospital Memorial Plaque

Jeffrey was born in Dunedin, New Zealand on 12th March 1883, and his father (Jeff Parker) was the Professor of Biology at Dunedin University.

Jeffrey was educated at Dunedin High School, and continued his studies at Cardiff University before moving to the University College Hospital in London.

Following his education, he took up appointments at Addenbrookes Hospital (Cambridge), King Edward VII Hospital (Cardiff) and took up practice as the lead doctor at Penydarren Surgery, Merthyr, which he held for 5 years. In 1913, he also went into partnership with Dr Cresswell in Dowlais.

On the outbreak of the war, he volunteered his services and was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the RAMC.

During the landing by the 11th Manchesters at Gallipoli, a fellow officer of the 11th Battalion wrote on his death;

“It was in the landing on the evening of the 6-7 August. There was heavy fire, rifle and shrapnel, and many were wounded before they left the lighter. The remainder had to swim or flounder the few yards to the shore. The doctor was kept busy for a short time with those wounded on board (SS Ascania), and then came ashore like the rest.

The last time any of us saw him, he was walking about as if he were just holding his ordinary sick parade, and seemingly quite indifferent to the terrible hail of lead. In his endeavor to get at the wounded, he seems to have walked right into the Turks and his end was instantaneous. Need I say how much we missed him, and especially in the dreadful days that followed, and we were without 'our doctor' and another, 'He was a great favourite with us all, through his quiet gentleness”

Son of Jeffrey and Charlotte Elizabth Parker.