| Regimental number | 3457 |
| Date of birth | |
| Place of birth | Arding near Armidale, New South Wales |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Farmer |
| Address | Lincoln, Dangarsleigh, Armidale, New South Wales |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 22 |
| Next of kin | Father, James Henry Parsons, Lincoln, Dangarsleigh, Armidale, New South Wales |
| Enlistment date | |
| Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll | |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 55th Battalion, 9th Reinforcement |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/72/4 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A68 Anchises on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 5th Machine Gun Battalion |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Other details |
William served throughout France in some of the major battles of the Somme and was wounded by schrapnel in the shoulder.He carried the schrapnel for the rest of his life suffering much pain. On 20 January 1923 he married Ellen Maud Cooke in the Church of England Cathedral at Armidale and had nine children, the eldest (a boy) being stillborn. On 22 January 1942 William again enlisted, No 393494 in the A.I.F., at Adamstown, volunteering for overseas service but when it was discovered he had put his age back ten years, he was transferred as a fitter to the 14th Advanced Ammunition repair unit and spent time at Wallangarra, Bathurst and Moorebank, before transferring to Marrangaroo near Lithgow. |
| Date of death | |
| Age at death | 79 |
| Place of burial | Armidale Church of England Cemetery |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
