William Parlett
William Parlett was born on 5th September 1911 to William and Isabella Parlett of 18 Ann Street, Hendon. William Sr was a publican running the New Shades Hotel at 63 Addison Street, Hendon, employing his two eldest daughters as barmaids.
William Jr joined the East Yorkshire regiment (The Duke of York’s Own) in 1929 as a machine gunner, but was not in the army long, he was Court Martialled for striking an officer and discharged in September 1930
In 1935 William joined the Communist Party and the General and Municipal Workers Union (now the GMB), working as a general labourer and occasional seaman. Frank Graham organised William’s recruitment before he himself set off for Spain. William was enlisted into the British Battalion on 1st January 1937 and was assigned to Harold Fry’s No.2 Company, he was wounded on the 13th February during the Battle of Jarama when his company commander and some of his comrades were captured, he survived the brutal assault on the Nationalist lines on 27th February which cost the life of the North East Coast District Secretary Wilf Jobling.
On 6th March 1937 William, with Edward Beaton was Court Martialled, again, this time for leaving the Battlefield without permission, he was assigned to a labour battalion. In April William was in hospital with “kidney trouble.” He returned to the Battalion in September 1937 but was taken ill again, spending three months in hospital, he returned to the Battalion in December 1937 to take part in the Battle for Teruel where he was captured. William was held as a Prisoner of war at San Pedro de Cardeña where he joined his cousin Syd Scaife.
In October 1938 William, Sidney and James were released in exchange for Italian prisoners captured by the Republican forces. On returning home William worked as a labourer building the final section of Ford housing estate in Sunderland. He then joined the Merchant Navy, first as a steward and then later as a deckhand.
Compiled by Tony Fox
Solidarity Park 