Parrish, Albert
Albert Parrish (Service no: 3608) was born at Foxground, the son of Thomas and Susanna, where he attended Foxground Public School.
At the time of enlistment, Albert was a single 28-year-old farmer at Gerringong, who had spent three years with the 5th Light Horse. He embarked from Brisbane on HMAT A55 Kyarra on 3 January 1916 with 8th Reinforcements, 25th Battalion. His brother Thomas Lindsay Parrish (Service No 3607) was with him. After arriving in Egypt, Albert was transferred to 2nd Pioneer Battalion on 13 March 1916 and saw service on the Western Front, having arrived in France on 26 March 1916.
In July 1916, Albert was sent to hospital in France and then England, suffering from Bronchitis. He recovered and returned to France on 22 November 1916, only to return to hospital a short time later with mumps .He returned to his unit in May 1917, and on 4 August 1917 was promoted to Lance Corporal.
Albert was serving in the Quartermasters Store at an ammunition dump at Pont Noyelle when, at about 7pm on 27th May 1918, an air raid occurred. A shell hit the dump and Albert, along with several others, was killed.
According to Lieut. Grove of the Australian Pioneers:
He worked at the Q.M.’s store. His brother was killed at Westhoek
Ridge, Ypres, last year, and I was with his brother too when he was
killed. A. Parrish was good looking, about 5 ft 10, clean shaven, and
very quiet. I was about ¼ mile away from him at the time, and didn’t
see him killed. He was killed by an aeroplane bomb while looking
after the store on the Main Albert-Amiens Road. He was killed
instantly.
And this account from Cpl. Smith of the 2nd Australian Pioneers:
He was killed instantly by a shell in the evening just before
dark. He was buried at Franvillers by the Padre, and a proper
cross was put up. I took his job over after he was hit. Jerry
was shelling, and instead of staying in the dug-out he went
into a field and was hit there. Two or three others were killed
with him.
Albert is buried in Franvillers Communal Cemetery Extension Plot I, Row C, Grave 9.
Albert’s younger brother Thomas Lindsay Parrish was killed earlier in 1917. Both Parrish boys attained the rank of Lance Corporal.