Reginald Lacey Parsons

Reginald Lacey Parsons was born in Bolton on 29 June 1891.

He was the son of Percy Reginald and Ada Parsons, of 32 Bromwich Street, Bolton

His father, Percy Reginald Parsons, was the cashier at a textile machine works.

Reginald attended Bolton Church Institute at some time between 1902-1908. He also attended Bolton Municipal Secondary School.

He was later employed by the Union Bank of Manchester at their Salford and Liverpool branches.

He married Winifred Higginson at Christ Church, Walmsley, Turton on 23 Dec 1915 and they lived at 223 Belmont Road, Bolton. They had one daughter, Winifred Mary
Parsons
, born in 1916.

Parsons family tree - pdf

Reginald's War

Reginald served as a Royal Navy officer for nearly two-and-a-half years until his ship was lost.

The ship could not be named in the press, to prevent the information being seen by enemy spies, but she was the RFA Lady Cory Wright, sailing from Plymouth to Malta with a cargo of mines. She was torpedoed by the German Submarine UC17, 12 miles off Lizard, Cornwall, on 26 March 1918. The ship sank and of the 40 members of the crew, 39 lost their lives - including Reginald.

(The Lady Cory Wright was a non-commissioned vessel, hired by the Royal Navy as a mine carrier and a Royal Fleet Auxiliary, therefore she did not use HMS.)

 

Bolton Journal and Guardian
22 October 1915

Naval Commission for Boltonian


Mr R.L. Parsons, son of Mr P.R. Parsons of 32, Bromwich-st., has obtained a commission as Sub-Lieut. In the Navy. He is an old boy of the Church Institute Schools, and is at present employed by the Union Bank of Manchester at the Liverpool Branch. He will join as assistant paymaster.

Bolton Journal and Guardian
5 April 1918

Acting Paymaster REGINALD LACEY PARSONS, son of Mr P.R. Parsons, 32, Bromwich-st, Bolton, was killed on March 26th by the explosion of a mine which blew up the vessel on which he was serving.  He joined the R.N.R. at the outbreak of war, prior to which he was employed at the Salford Branch of the Union Bank of Manchester.  He obtained his commission in October 1915 and was promoted paymaster in July 1917.  He was educated at the Church Institute and Municipal Secondary School, and was connected with the Bolton Old Boys Cricket Club, and a member of the Deane and Dunscar Golf Clubs.  He was assistant secretary of the Lads Club.  Aged 26, he leaves a wife and child at 223 Belmont-rd, Bolton.

KILLED AT SEA

PARSONS – On March 26th.  Acting Paymaster REGINALD LACEY PARSONS, R.N.R. dearly beloved husband of Winifred Parsons, 223 Belmont-rd, Bolton, and only son of Mr and Mrs P.R. Parsons, 32 Bromwich-st, Bolton.

 

 

Reginald Lacey Parsons

Reginald Lacey Parsons

Paymaster

RFA Lady Cory Wright
Royal Naval Reserve

Born: Bolton 29 June 1891

Died: Off Cornwall 26 March 1918

Link to CWGC Casualty Details

Royal Navy

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