This area of the site is in rememberance of all the service men and women from Ashburton who lost their lives in two world wars and to keep their memories alive through the stories of those that lived through them.
If you have a personal account of war and would like to see your story added to this area of the site please contact the Town Clerk, John Germon at johngermon@ashburton.org or call him directly on 01364 652142
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J Parnell now living in Canada 1939-1945.
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Star.
Atlantic Star.
Africa Star and Clasp.
Pacific Star.
Italy Star.
1941-1945. Russian Convoy Medal
1939-45 Defence Medal.
1939-1945 War Medal.
Brief account of Royal Naval service.
1938, left Ashburton Primary School and joined Royal Naval School at Holbrook. [RHS].
Joined RN Establishment at HMS St George, Isle of Man.
Qualified as Boy Telegraphist and joined Battleship HMS Duke of York, at Scapa Flow.
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Involved in Russian convoys, first one being the ill-fated PQ 17, where many ships of the convoy were lost.
Aboard Duke of York during the sinking the German battleship "Scharnhorst at the North Cape.
Loaned to British cruiser HMS Berwick in the Atlantic as a Leading Telegraphist.
Returned to Duke of York for Force "H" landings in North Africa.
Drafted to HMS Golden Hind in the Pacific.
[Australia]
Injured and lost the sight of my right eye.
Landed in Australian hospital, then returned to UK.
Sent to Belfast, N Ireland for installation of Royal Naval radio station.
Drafted to HMS Drake at Plymouth and there demobbed. Invalided out due to the loss of sight right eye. |
On being demobbed, returned to Ashburton and employed at Ashburton Umber mine until draft came through
to join Government Radio Reserch Foreign Office at Barnet Hants.
Joined Diplomatic Wireless Service.
Resigned and came to Canada in 1952 and joined Canadian Pacific Telecommunications as Testing and
Regulating Chief.
Retired in 1956.
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