| William John Park was the son of John and Margaret Park. William was born on 29th May 1887 in the Magherafelt area.
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| Family: John Park, Margaret Park, William John Park (born 29th May 1887), Robert Park (born 17th December 1888), Lizzie Park (born 16th November 1890), Richard Park (born 1st March 1892).
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| The 1901 census lists William as age 13 living with the family at house 1 in Grange, Desertmartin, County Londonderry. John Park was a farmer and a member of Magherafelt Rural District Council (R.D.C.).
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| William Park emigrated to Canada. There was a John William Park, from Ireland, aged 23, a Presbyterian from a farming background, who arrived in Canada in October 1910.
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| The 1911 census does not list William as living with the family at house 41 in Grange, Desertmartin, County Londonderry.
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| John Park was a Justice of the Peace (J.P.).
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| Prior to enlisting, William was employed as a motorman with Toronto Suburban Railway. A motorman was a person who operates an electrified trolley car, tram, light rail, or rapid transit train.
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| William Park was married to Isobel Annie Parke. They were living at Berkmount Avenue, Toronto.
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| On his enlistment papers he spelt his surname with an ‘e’. William Parke enlisted on 7th April 1916 in Toronto, Ontario.
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| Private William Parke was serving with the 58th Battalion of the Canadian Infantry when he was killed in action at Passchendaele on Friday 26th October 1917.
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| The Canadian Circumstances of Death Register records that Private Parke was killed in action on 26 October 1917. While taking part in an attack near Bellevue Spur, West of Passchendaele, he was hit on the head by an enemy rifle bullet and instantly killed.
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 11th May 1918: Magherafelt
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| Everyone who has the pleasure of the acquaintance of Mr John Park, J.P., will join with his fellow magistrates and others present at the Petty Sessions on Wednesday in expressing sympathy and condolence with him in the death in action of his two soldier sons. It is a great consolation to have been the parent of real men
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| Private Parke has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres.
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| Private William Park is listed on the WWI memorial in Termoneeny Parish Church Knockloughrim and on the Roll of Honour in Curran Masonic Hall.
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| Private William Parke is also commemorated on the Memorial Plaque located at Toronto’s Old City Hall on Queen Street. It is inscribed as follows:
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'In Loving Memory of the members of the Toronto Railway Employees Union Div. 113 of the A.A. of S. and Ere of A who gave their lives in the Great War so that the Empire might endure. Faithful Unto Death'
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| William Parke’s brother also died in the war. Private Robert Park was serving with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Irish Fusiliers when he was killed in action near Kemmel, six miles south-west of Ypres in Belgium on Friday 19th April 1918. He was 29 years old.
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| The CWGC record Private William Parke as the son of John Parke, J.P., and Mrs Parke of Grange, Magherafelt, County Londonderry, Ireland. He is also listed as the husband of Isobel Annie Parke, of Minesing, Ontario. Minesing lies north of Toronto.
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