Victory Medal awarded to Serjeant F.J. Parr, 5th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment who was wounded in France on 6th October 1915. Recovering he would return to France in April 1916, later being accepted for Officer training in April 1918, and successfully completing it, would be commissioned just before the end of the war.
Victory Medal; (1686 SJT. F.J. PARR. GLOUC. R.)
Condition: Nearly Extremely Fine
Frederick James Parr was born in Cheltenham in 1893. At the time he was living at 12 Queen’s Buildings in Wellington Passage together with his mother, grandmother, and a younger brother, he was employed as a compositor for a Mr S R Grove. Frederick joined the Territorial Force on 10th June 1912 and signed on for four years with the 5th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment.
On 5th August 1914. Frederick was mobilised along with the rests of his battalion, initially the battalion deployed to the Isle of Wight, but by mid-august it had been moved to Chelmsford in Essex. Since Territorial soldiers were still unable to legally serve abroad. Frederick signed an agreement in September 1914 offering to serve overseas if required.
The 1st/5th left for France on 29th March 1915. Frederick was wounded on 6th October, when a shell exploded in his trench, killing two men and wounding one other. He was evacuated back to the UK and was treated for his wounds in Cambuslang Hospital near Glasgow. Pte Parr returned to France in April 1916, where he was promoted to unpaid Lance Corporal on 30th July and then to Corporal in April 1917. In November 1917 whilst serving with C Company, 1st/5th he became Acting Sergeant.
In April 1918 Sergeant Parr was accepted for Officer training at Chisledon. He completed this training successfully and was commissioned just before the end of the war.
