Private
Parkin, Frederick James
Unit
Royal Canadian Regiment
Branch
Infantry
Service Component
Canadian Expeditionary Force
Service Number
455686
birth
1895/07/28
Sheffield, United Kingdom, England
death
1917/04/09
Vimy, France
grave
La Chaudière Military Cemetery, Vimy, France
Gender
Male
Frederick James Parkin was born in Sheffield, England, on 28 July 1895. He was the fourth of Henry and Sarah Parkin’s seven children. His father was a general labourer.
It is unclear when Parkin immigrated to Canada. A finisher in a wool mill, he enlisted in the 59th Canadian Infantry Battalion in Smiths Falls, Ontario, on 14 October 1915. After initial training in Canada, he sailed with his unit to England on SS Olympic, embarking in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on 1 April 1916. The 59th Battalion disembarked in Liverpool on 11 April 1916.
On 28 June 1916, Parkin was transferred to the Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR) for service in France. He joined the RCR in the field the following day.
On 25 July 1916, Parkin was hospitalized with a fractured right fibula. He had tripped and fallen during a charge. He remained in hospitals in France and England for the next three months. Once he had recovered, Parkin was briefly posted to the Canadian Army Service Corps in England. He rejoined the RCR in France on 21 November 1916. Parkin was killed in action in France on 9 April 1917, during the Battle of Vimy Ridge.
Frederick James Parkin is buried in La Chaudière Military Cemetery, Vimy, France.
