Rainald Parker

My entry for Rainald Parker on the Chailey site reads:

Chailey Parish Magazine notes in October 1914 that Rainald Parker is serving his King and Country. In October 1915 he is noted as Parker, Pte R, County of London Cyclists and the following month this information is upgraded to Parker, Pte R, 25th County of London Cyclists. In December 1915 there is another change and he is recorded as Parker, L-Corpl R, ASC, MT, England.

In March 1917, his promotion to corporal is noted, followed in December 1917 by notification of his further promotion to sergeant. This is the final entry for this man in Chailey’s parish magazine.

There are no men by the name of Rainald Parker noted on the 1901 census of England and Wales. In the England and Wales, Civil Registration Index: 1837-1983 however, the birth of Rainald Fortescue Parker is noted as having been registered in the March 1896 quarter at Royston, Hertfordshire.

Rainald Parker's medal index card held at the National Archives indicates his rank as sergeant, his regiment as Royal Army Service Corps and his number as M/205166. He was entitled to the British War and Victory medals.

I am grateful to Rob Moffit who contacted me this week with the following information:

"I can add that [Rainald Parker" IS on the 1901 census, mistranscribed as Reginald FORTESCUE in Ealing (Ref RG13 1191 104 19). His death is registered Q1 1960 in Bournemouth. I have just found the record of his marriage to a Minnie STEER in Exeter (Q3 1927)."

Many thanks, Rob. I have also since found him on the 1911 census, the 15-year-old stepson of William and Mary Horton, living in Seaford, Sussex. William Horton is recorded as a barrister-at-law and was presumably quite well-off.

Rainald Parker and Thomas Harry Lee Jellicoe

Thanks to correspondence received, I've updated the pages for Rainald Parker and Thomas Harry Lee Jellicoe.

Rainald Parker originally joined the 25th London Regiment but saw service overseas with the Royal Army Service Corps.

The Reverend Thomas Harry Lee Jellicoe must have seemed like a pillar of strength to the Chailey community during World War 1 and he was certainly a diligent chronicler of Chailey parishioners' service overseas. I had known that he was born in Bangalore but knew very little of his family background. Now, thanks to correspondence with a relative in New Zealand, I have been able to fill in a few gaps.

Coincidentally, I currently live in Bangalore and it may be that there will be further information locked away in mouldering ledgers in St Mark's Church, Bangalore where Thomas Jellicoe's parents were married in 1859 and where Thomas himself may have been christened.