James John Parker was a 22 year old laborer originally from Belfast, Ireland when he attested into the 92nd Battalion (48th Highlanders) in Toronto on August 13, 1915 at the Armouries on University Street which was the home station of the 48th Highlanders.
The 92nd Battalion was the second of three battalions that The Regiment raised for service in The Great War with the 15th Battalion having been raised first in September 1914. The 92nd Battalion stood up in August 1915 and while in Toronto conducting recruiting and initial training , it was garrisoned at Riverdale Barracks.
Once up to strength, the battalion moved to Niagara Camp where it conducted the training prior to embarkation to the UK. The battalion departed Canada in two phases: a company sized Reinforcing Draft departed first in November 1915 and upon arrival in the UK was billeted in East and West Sandling camp. In May 1916 this company was broken up into smaller reinforcing drafts which were then sent to battalions already at The Front – specifically the 15th, 13th and 42nd Battalions.
The main body of the 92nd Battalion (including Private John James Parker) departed Canada in a convoy on May 9, 1916 onboard the Empress of Britain and arrived in Liverpool on May 28, 1916. The main body of the battalion joined the Reinforcing Draft at Sandling camp.
Like the Reinforcing draft, the battalion was gradually broken up into drafts that were sent to battalions (again mainly the 15th, 13th and 42nd Battalions) in France. Private Parker is sent as a reinforcement to the 15th Battalion on April 26, 1917 to help replace the casualties the battalion suffered at Vimy Ridge earlier that month. He was assigned to No. 3 Company. He took part in the battalion’s 1917 frontline trench tours at Arleaux at the end of April; Berthonval in May; Arleux, Vimy ridge, and Mericourt in June. He was then attach posted to the Canadian Corps Composite Pioneer Company from July 2nd to Aug 27th and returned to the 15th battalion on August 28th.
He took part in the remaining 1917 trench tours at Laurent in September, Avion in October and Lens in December as well as the battle of Passchendaele in October-November. In January he is given permission to marry. (See scan of 15th Battalion Part 2 Daily Order # 5 dated January 25, 1918)
In 1918 he took part in the trench tours at Loos in late January and early February and in the St Emile sector near Lens in early March. On February 3rd, 1918 during the tour in the St Emile sector in what was called Nabob trench he suffered aphomia (damage to the larynx) from a gas shell. He was sent to No. 6 Casualty Clearing Station and from there to No. 24 General Hospital, Etaples before being evacuated to No. 16 Canadian General Hospital, Orpington. Following medical treatment he was discharged on May 7, 1918 and attach posted to the 1st Central Ontario Regiment Depot in Whitley where he was promoted to Acting Corporal.
He remained in the UK until the war’s end and was discharged from the Canadian Army on April 26, 1919 in the UK.
NOK: Mrs S.A. Parker (W) 57 Milford St., Belfast, Ireland
