Saturday 25 April 2015

Parkinson, George Fielding - Captain

Cpt George F Parkinson
5th. Bn. East Lancashire Regiment
Died on 16 July 1944
Age 31

The 5th. Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment, landed on the Normandy beaches at the end of June 1944. On 16 July orders were received to attack German positions in the 'Bocage' country (an area of small fields, high hedges and deep ditches - ideal for defence) near the village of Fontenay-le-Pesnel. Opposition was heavy, but the first objective was reached. However, little progress could be made towards the second objective as German shell and mortar fire caused many casualties. A fresh assault, supported by artillery, was successful, but again at a heavy cost in casualties. The whole action cost the Battalion over 200 men killed, wounded and missing. Captain George Parkinson lost his life in this action.

George was the son of Annie Mary and the late William Parkinson and the husband of Dorothy. George was 31. George's father was formerly a doctor in Haslingden. George was employed at Barclay's Bank in Blackburn. He enlisted as a Private early in 1939 and on 3 September he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant.

George lies in Fontenay-le-Presnel War Cemetery, France. The village is 16 kilometres west of Caen. The Cemetery contains 460 Commonwealth burials from the June and July battles in the area. George's grave in in Plot 3, Row F, Grave 1.



Captain George Fielding Parkinson   (Click over to enlarge)





Tracey Parkinson said on 3rd November 2015:

Captain George Fielding Parkinson was my grandfather, a man I never got to meet, but he will always be a hero in my heart.

http://www.fallenheroesofnormandy.org/Servicemen/Detail/12376