Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
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Date Information
20/05/2020 01429
21/01/2019 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
21/01/2019
21/01/2019 From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 11th May 1918: Magherafelt
05/03/2016 On 18 April 1918 the Battalion diary stated:
05/03/2016 Robert Park was the son of John and Margaret Park. Robert was born 17th December 1888 in the Magherafelt area.
05/03/2016 Family: John Park, Margaret Park, William Park (born 29th May 1887), Robert Park (born 17th December 1888), Lizzie Park (born 16th November 1890), Richard Park (born 1st March 1892).
05/03/2016 The 1901 census lists Robert as age 12 living with the family at house 1 in Grange, Desertmartin, Londonderry. John Park was a farmer and a member of Magherafelt Rural District Council (R.D.C.).
05/03/2016 The 1911 census lists Robert as age 22 living with the family at house 41 in Grange, Desertmartin, Londonderry. Robert was working on his father’s farm.
05/03/2016 John Park was a Justice of the Peace (J.P.).
05/03/2016 Robert Park was a member of O’Hara Purple Guards L.O.L. 310, Magherafelt.
05/03/2016 Robert Park enlisted in Antrim.
05/03/2016 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.
05/03/2016 ‘2am. Moved to Kemmel as composite Battalion with 1st Royal Irish Fusiliers commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Kelly. Heavy casualties while moving into position, from enemy shelling. Captain Despard wounded and died soon after. 8pm. Relieved by French troops and marched to Siege Camp.’
05/03/2016 Private Robert Park has no known grave and is commemorated at Tyne Cot Memorial.
05/03/2016 Robert Park’s brother also died in the War. 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.
05/03/2016 The CWGC record Private Robert Parkas the son of John Park, J.P., and Margaret Park of Grange, Magherafelt, County Londonderry.
05/03/2016 Information and images are derived from both Phillip Tardif’s North Irish Horse website and Sam Hudson’s Castledawson War Dead website (see references).
05/03/2016 Private Robert Park was with the North Irish Horse (2325) for a time.
30/12/2015
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