Hardy Falconer Parsons VC (13 June 1897 – 21 August 1917) was an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

recipient of the

Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously ...

, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to

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and Commonwealth forces. He was born in Rishton,

Lancashire Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated Lancs) is the name of a historic county, ceremonial county, and non-metropolitan county in North West England. The boundaries of these three areas differ significantly. The non-metropolitan county of Lancash ...

, the son of the Reverend James Ash Parsons and Henrietta Parsons, of Leysian Mission,

City Road City Road or The City Road is a road that runs through central London. The northwestern extremity of the road is at Angel where it forms a continuation of Pentonville Road. Pentonville Road itself is the modern name for the eastern part of Lon ...

, London. He was educated at King Edward VII School, Lytham St Annes,

Kingswood School (''In The Right Way Quickly'') , established = , closed = , type = Independent , religious_affiliation = Methodist , president = , head_label = Headmaste ...

, Bath, and as a medical student at the

University of Bristol , mottoeng = earningpromotes one's innate power (from Horace, ''Ode 4.4'') , established = 1595 – Merchant Venturers School1876 – University College, Bristol1909 – received royal charter , type ...

, preparing for medical missionary work. A commemorative stone was unveiled in his hometown of Rishton on 21 August 2017 at the town's war memorial to mark 100 years since he died. As he was a Bristol University medical student, a blue plaque on his former residence was also unveiled in 2017.

Details

He was 20 years old, and a temporary second lieutenant in the 14th (Service) Battalion, The Gloucestershire Regiment,

British Army The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...

during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. On 20/21 August 1917 near Epehy, France, during a night attack by the enemy on his bombing post, the bombers holding the post were forced back, but Second Lieutenant Parsons remained at his post. Single-handed and although severely burnt by liquid fire, he continued to hold up the enemy with

bombs A bomb is an explosive weapon that uses the exothermic reaction of an explosive material to provide an extremely sudden and violent release of energy. Detonations inflict damage principally through ground- and atmosphere-transmitted mechanic ...

until severely wounded. Second Lieutenant Parsons died of his wounds. He was buried at Villers-Faucon Communal Cemetery, France.CWGC entry
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Citation

An extract from ''The London Gazette'', dated 17 October 1917, records the following: ''The Story of Hardy Falconer Parsons'' was produced by Maverick Productions in 2021, an audio documentary detailing the life of Hardy Falconer Parsons and his family. It was put together as part of a series documenting historical events in the borough of Hyndburn and is available online.

The medal

His Victoria Cross is displayed in the Officers' Mess of Bristol University Officer Training Corps at the Artillery Grounds, Whiteladies Road, Bristol. The mess is named the Falconer Parsons VC Mess in his honour. His Victoria cross was being displayed in the imperial war museum at Gloucester Queys after it was donated by his living family.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Parsons, Hardy Falconer 1897 births 1917 deaths British World War I recipients of the Victoria Cross Gloucestershire Regiment officers British military personnel killed in World War I British Army personnel of World War I People educated at Kingswood School, Bath People from Rishton Alumni of the University of Bristol British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross Military personnel from Lancashire