Donald Parkinson
Date of birth: 1921
Date of death: 16.2.1944
Area: Wrenthorpe
Regiment: Royal Engineers
Family information: Son of Marmaduke and Annie Parkinson of Wrenthorpe
Rank: Sapper
Service number: 14555691
War Service
Sapper 14555691 Donald Parkinson of the Royal Engineers 1051 Port Maint. Coy., died on 16th February 1944. According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission he was the son of Marmaduke and Annie Parkinson of Wrenthorpe. He is buried in Wakefield Cemetery.
On 26th February 1944 his Aunt Ann, Uncle Eli and Olive put the following memorial in the Wakefield Express.
“In radiant memory of our dear nephew, Spr. D Parkinson, who was accidentally killed in Scotland on the 16th February 1944.”
The following year on 17th February 1945 there were two memorials for Donald – one from his loving Sister Vera and little brother Jack and another from a Mrs Walton. Donald is possibly the D Parkinson who is remembered on the plaque at Sandal Rugby Union Club.
Family Life
I believe that his birth was registered in the December quarter 1921 with his mother’s maiden name of Calvert. Marmaduke Parkinson had married Annie M Calvert in 1917. There were three other births with a mother’s maiden name of Calvert – Jim in 1920, Vera in 1923 and Jack in 1933.
In the 1939 Register the family were living at 23, Fieldhouse Street, Wakefield. Marmaduke was a blacksmith. The following record is closed followed by Vera who was engaged in home duties and Jack who was still at school. I believe that Donald’s mother had died before the register was taken at the end of September 1939 so the closed record could have been either Jim or Donald.
I cannot find anyone with the name Marmaduke Parkinson in the electoral register until 1945 when he was living with a Bertha Parkinson at 2, Bunkers Hill, Wrenthorpe. Marmaduke had married Bertha England in 1940.
