Robert was born in Ulverston in January 1882; he was the son of Margaret and the late Robertius Litt Parker, of Ulverston, Lancs. The family lived at 3 Sandhall Cottages, Ulverstone.

In 1901, Robert was working as a Cowman at Higher Standen Farm near Clitheroe. On February 20th, 1909, the 27 year old Robert married Annie Price Stuart in St Johns Church Galgate, the Residence of both parties was given as School Villas.

In 1911, Robert was listed in the census as living at Chapel Street, Galgate and employed as a general labourer at a Lino manufacturing works, the couple had one son, Benjamin, born 18 June 1909.

His service records have survived having been thought lost. They reveal Robert enlisted in Lancaster on April 27th, 1916 and was living at East View, Chapel Street, Galgate at the time of his enlistment. Posted to the 1/4 battalion (TF) of the King's Own, Robert stated he had previously served in the 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers (a regular unit) and this could have happened between 1900 and 1909, when he married. There is no evidence at present though.

Robert left for France on 23/9/16, disembarking at Boulogne on the same day, he was then posted to 23 Infantry Base depot Etaples, joining the 8th Battalion of the King's Own on 30/9/16. His progress through the Ranks was rapid: Lance Corporal 16 December 1916, Corporal 16 May 1917 and finally Sergeant on 29 May 1918. On Promotion Robert was briefly reposted to the 1st Battalion, but he re-joined the 8th Battalion on 7 June 1918.

Robert’s Military Medal was awarded for actions undertaken at Zonnebeke on 26th September 1917 and appeared in the London Gazette of 25 Jan 1918.

In July 1918, the 8th Kings Own were part of 76th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Division. Sgt Parker was killed on a night patrol on the 17th of July.

There is an extraordinary postscript to this sad tale: when Robert was awarded the MM, he would have been presented with the ribbon to wear at a parade, the actual medal being awarded later at an investiture or sent through the post.

However, on March 27th 1919, Mrs Price writes to the War Office from 23, the Crescent, Galgate (now Main Road opposite Fishers Garage) applying for the MM, and stated she cannot get a satisfactory reply from the Preston Infantry records office despite a number of letters. Being a determined woman, Mrs Price asks others to help and on the 15 May 1919 Mr Bretherton of the Plough Inn writes to General Hunter's secretary regarding the issue of the MM on behalf of Mrs Parker. As General Hunter lived at Ward House at the time and was the Regimental Colonel of the King's Own for many Years he was a good choice to move things along.

On the 2 June 1919 General Hunter wrote to the Secretary of State for War asking for a reply to Mr Bretherton of the Plough Inn. Events then moved rapidly, for on the 6 June 1919 Mrs Parker is asked if she would like the medal presenting at a parade or sending to her by post. On the 28 July 1919 Infantry Records Preston reported that the Medal was forwarded to the Lancaster Depot (Bowerham) for presentation to Mrs Parker on the 17 June 1919. There is a Receipt signed by Mrs Parker for the Medal dated 14th September 1919, which she must have signed with great satisfaction!

The medal was presented at a formal parade as reported in the Lancaster observer and Morecambe Chronicle 19 September 1919. There was also a Pension awarded to Mrs Parker and Benjamin until June 1925. 

[Later the 1921 census shows her and Benjamin living with her parents Thomas (stepfather) and Mary Ann Gardner in the Crescent, it seems likely they had moved in with her. Mrs Annie Parker never remarried and continued to live in Galgate until her death. She appeared in 1952 in a newspaper article on Galgate Mill, where she is stated to have 31 years’ service. It appears she continued to live at 23 the Crescent as well. Annie died on 13 December 1965 at a hospital at Grange over Sands, she had been living at “the Hermitage” Crook-o-Lune. Benjamin was her sole Heir, and he is listed as an Estimator. Benjamin married Annie Fox in 1929, and in 1939 was living at 8 Chapel Street working at Williamsons. The couple had a son -also Benjamin. Benjamin Senior died in 1968.]