Randolph Gordon PARKIN Bombadier 127230, Royal Field Artillery. Died 14 th October 1917. Randolp Gordon Parkin was born in Howden-le-Wear in 1896 and was baptised at Crook Primitive Methodist Chapel on 15 th October of that year. The 1901 Census shows Gordon's father, George, to be a travelling draper, although in the 1911 Census he is described as an independent draper. As Gordon was employed as a shop assistant it could be presumed he was working for this father, possibly at their home address of Denver House at the bottom of Rumby Hill, Howden. The family history shows that the Parkin family was deeply involved with the local Methodist Church, several being Sunday School teachers. Gordon was 18 years old when war was declared in 1914. He enlisted at Bishop Auckland and was conscripted into the Royal Field Artillery. He was posted to France, and was present at Passchendaele in September and October 1917. He died on the 14 th October 1917, and was buried at Lijssenhoek Cemetery near Ypres. Later, the Howden-le-Wear Methodist Diamond Jubilee pamphlet of 1930 refers to 'A walk and talk with Gordon Parkin when he was home on leave. That brave young Christian was one of the finest products of the Church’. The Minster also reminisced: ‘From time to time it was our melancholy duty to visit the relatives of those who had fallen. At Howden-le-Wear the memory of two who fell clearly stands out – clean, Christian, intelligent – Gordon Parkin and John Hook’.

Remembering Our Fallen

Howden-le-Wear History Society