Memorials & Monuments
on the Isle of Wight
- Biography -
- Harry Parkes -

Name

Henry Watton (Harry) Parkes, son of William and Julia Parkes (née Watton), Bembridge

Service details

M/6248 Engine Room Artificer 4th cl. H W Parkes, H.M.S. Penarth, Royal Navy

CWGC record ...

His name is recorded on the Bembridge War Memorial and the Sandown Secondary School War Memorial

Date of Birth :	1897
Date of Death :	4th Feb 1919
Where buried or commemorated :	Portsmouth Naval Memorial Panel 32

"Quite a gloom was caused in the village [Bembridge] when the news came through that Mr Harry Parkes, only son of Mr W Parkes, of Hawthorn Cottage, Foreland-road, was one of the victims of the mine-sweeper Penarth, which was blown up in the North Sea, his body having been picked up dead on a raft. The unfortunate young man, who was only 21, was of a bright disposition, devoted to his duties, and beloved by all. He won scholarships at the Sandown Secondary-school and was trained as an artificer on H.M.S. Fishguard, passing all his examinations with honours. After serving in H.M.S. Minotaur in the North Sea and in P.32 he volunteered for duty on the Penarth only a fortnight before the disaster. The sympathy of the whole district goes out to Mr, Mrs and Miss Parkes."

Information taken from The Isle of Wight County Press, 15th February 1919

The paddle steamer mine sweeper HMS Penarth was engaged in mine sweeping duties when, during a snowstorm, it drifted into an uncleared minefield and was destroyed. Of the crew, 37 were saved, and 40 lost. Another Islander lost was Harry Clements of Fishbourne.