Today we commemorate 101 years since the death of Bourne man, Private Cyer Parker of the 2nd/4th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment.
Cyer John Parker was born in Bourne in the spring of 1893. One of 10 children born to John Thomas Parker, a Farm Labourer of Bourne and his wife Mary Ann Copper from Toft.
By 1911, Cyer is still living in Bourne with his parents and was working as an assistant General Dealer.
Cyer joined the 2nd/4th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment during the war, unfortunately due to a lack of surviving records the details of his service is not known
During the time immediately before his death, the 2nd/4th Battalion was in action.
On the 23rd February 1917 the 2nd/4th Lincolnshires dembarked on the SS Lydia from Southampton and arrived in Le Harvre, France the following day. They had been appointed to the 59th Division (2nd North Midland) and the 177th Brigade.
They took over a sector close to Estrees but within two weeks they were in pursuit of the retiring German army, finding themselves crossing the Somme and by 18th March they occupied Peronne.
During Spring of 1917 the enemy carried out a tactical withdrawal back to the Hindenberg Line, this allowed them the shorten the front and hold better defensive positions.
On the 31st March the 2/4th Lincolnshire and the 2/5th Leicesters were involved in the capture of Hesbécourt and Hervilly, before moving east to take Hill 140 as part of the 177th Brigade.
On the 2nd April the 2/4th Leicestershire Regiment were unsuccessful in their goal to take Fervaque Farm. The Lincolnshires were tasked with the same goal the following day but again were unsuccessful.
On the 5th April the Battalion was once more in action near Templeux. By Noon they had took a new outpost on the line between Templeux and Hargicourt village and suffered heavy shelling during the afternoon.
The 6th saw more heavy shelling and the battalion HQ was hit. A patrol that advanced to and old German trench north of Hargicourt was shelled out. The day saw 4 killed and 16 other ranks wounded.
On the 7th patrols were sent out to take German posts on the outskirts of Hargicourt but no enemy were found there. The patrol laid up for the rest of the day but saw nothing. The afternoon saw more heavy shelling and the post was shelled out and moved to a disused German trench. 1 other rank was killed and 6 wounded.
Private Cyer John Parker lost his life on the 7th April as a result of these actions.
In memory of Private C Parker, 2nd/4th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment who died on 7 April 1917
Remembered with honour, Templeux-Le-Guerared Communal Cemetery Extension.
RIP
Lest we forget
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