Are you related to Private J. PARR – South Lancashire Regiment? Missing British War Medal found at garbage disposal.

Are you a relative or descendant of Private J. PARR who served in the South Lancashire Regiment during the Great War?

A missing First World War medal (British War Medal) awarded to Private J. PARR, service number 265565 who served with the South Lancashire Regiment during the 1914-1918 war has been found.  And thankfully, the people who currently have this medal in their possession are seeking to have the lost war medal reunited with a descendant of this man who served his country during this conflict.

IMAGE RIGHT: A British War Medal, similar to that awarded to Private J. PARR, service number 265565 who served with the South Lancashire Regiment during the Great War.  The medal was found at a waste disposal site.

This medal was found at the side of a compactor at a waste disposal site, by the husband of the current medal custodian and who rescued it.  This missing British War Medal bears the inscription on the edge ‘265565 PTE J.PARR. S.LAN .R’ and still bears the medal ribbon.  The current custodians of the medal hope to have the medal returned to the family of Private J. PARR as they appreciate the sentimental value that such awards represent to a family.

IMAGE LEFT: The cap badge as worn by servicemen of the South Lancashire Regiment during the Great War.

With the approach of the Centenary of the First World War, it is hoped that a descendant of J. PARR will be found.  This missing war medal is not for general sale and will only be returned to a descendant of Private J. PARR upon strict proof of relationship.

The South Lancashire Regiment (The Prince of Wales’s Volunteers) formed a part of the British Army from 1881 through to 1958, through an amalgamation of the 40th (2nd Somersetshire) Regiment of Foot and the 82nd (Prince of Wales’s Volunteers) Regiment of Foot; as a part of the Childers reforms.   During the Great War, its various battalions served on the North-West Frontier, the Western Front and one battalion was a depot and training battalion stationed in Lancashire during the course of the war.  Territorial and war-service battalions fought during the Dardenelles campaign (Gallipoli), in Mesopotamia and Macedonia.

Without further research, it is not known at this present time where Private J. PARR served – or which Battalion he was allotted within the Regiment.  However, his service number will assist his family geneologists in confirming any descendancy.

With 2014 just around the corner (Centenary of the start of the 1914-1918 war) the current custodians of this missing British War Medal hope that a descendant of J. PARR will be found. This missing war medal is not for general sale and will only be returned to a descendant of Private J. PARR upon strict proof of relationship.  Please contact the Medals Gone Missing Administrator for further details by emailing customerservice@medalsgonemissing.com

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About gary

Gary Traynor is the volunteer Administrator of the Militaria based website MEDALSGONEMISSING. The aim of this "NOT FOR PROFIT" website is to reunite families, with lost War Medals and other items of militaria. Anything from medals to items of uniform. What Gary refers to as their "lost heritage". He has been actively involved in the Militaria world and researching of Military History for well over 30 years. As a result, Gary also conducts valuations and offers advice on all items of militaria. He has acted as advisor to a number of television and Foxtel productions; including Sir Tony Robinson's "Tour of Duty" series which featured on the History Channel. Gary is a field historian and conducts tours to Gallipoli, The Western Front, Kokoda and many other major battle sites around the world. He was a member of the Australian Army Reserve (UNSWR & 4/3 RNSWR) and served for 23 years with the New South Wales Police Force. He is perhaps the only person who has been employed at the Australian War Memorial in all three capacities .... as a volunteer, part time and full time employee .... starting as a qualified tour guide, working in the public galleries as an Information Assistant and finally Assistant Curator in Military Heraldry & Technology. Medalsgonemissing is a website that will assist you in locating your family's lost war medals and other awards. If you have an ancestor who served in any of the British Commonwealth Armed Services at any time - and whose medals are lost/stolen or simply missing....then so long as the medals are out there - this site will help you to locate them. However the site also contains articles of interest in relation to Military History, War Memorials & Uniforms / kit. Please explore our website as there is sure to be something of interest to you.
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2 Responses to Are you related to Private J. PARR – South Lancashire Regiment? Missing British War Medal found at garbage disposal.

  1. Jeff Keenan says:

    Hi, I can confirm that Pte John Parr lived at 51 Victoria Street, St.Helens (sadly this street is long demolished). He served in the 14th Bat of the South Lancs.
    Also living at that address was Pte 12929 William Howard South Lancs Regt.
    I am from St.helens myself and an am expert in the towns soldiers, casualties etc. I hope that this helps.
    Kind regards, Jeff.

  2. sholgate says:

    thank you Jeff Keenan for this information.
    we still have this medal and think it will be fitting to take it to the lancashire regiment museum if they will take it.
    we are sorry that no one from his family have come forward to claim this medal.
    my grandaughter actually did a g.c.s.e 2015 art project about J parr. it was very moving to see her work.
    we have chatted to the rest of our grandchildren about this medal and we shall involve them in handing this medal over.

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