Charles Parker

Charles Edward Haydon Parker (10 March 1870 – 9 August 1918) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Details Parker was born in Woolwich to a William (a Crimean War veteran) and Louisa Parker. He was 30 years old, and a sergeant in "Q" Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, British Army, during the Second Boer War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC:

On 31 March 1900 at Sanna's Post ( Korn Spruit), South Africa, "Q" and "U" Batteries of the Royal Horse Artillery were ambushed with the loss of most of the baggage column and five guns of the leading battery. When the alarm was given, "Q" Battery went into action 1,150 yards from the spruit, until the order to retire was received, when Major Edmund Phipps-Hornby, commander of "Q" Battery, ordered the guns and their limbers to be run back by hand to a safe place. This most exhausting operation was carried out by, among others, Sergeant Parker, Gunner Isaac Lodge and Driver Horace Glasock, and when at last all but one of the guns and one limber had been moved to safety, the battery was reformed. The citation reads:

Parker was elected by the non-commissioned officers as described above. He returned to the United Kingdom in early 1901, and received the VC from King Edward during an investiture at Marlborough House 25 July 1901.

Lieutenant Francis Maxwell also earned the VC in this action.

Later life After 21 years of service in the Royal Horse Artillery, he retired and settled in Coventry. On the outbreak of the Great War, he initially worked in a munitions factory, but soon decided to rejoin and was posted to France with the Royal Field Artillery as a Battery Sergeant Major. In 1918, the father of two was badly wounded and forced to return home. He never recovered from his wounds, and died aged 48 on 9 August 1918. He was buried in London Road Cemetery, Coventry, and now has a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone.

The medal His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Artillery Museum, Larkhill Wiltshire, England.