1914/15 Trio & LS&GC 1st Class Blacksmith Parke Royal Navy HMS Chatham

1914/15 Star 182207 T PARKE BLK RN, British War & Victory Medals named 182207 T PARKE BLK 1 RN & Naval Long Service & Good Conduct Medal named 182207 THOMAS PARKE BLACKSMITH 1CL HMS CHATHAM.

Thomas Parke was born on 27th Aug 1878 in Bromley, London and his occupation was a Labourer. He joined the Royal Navy on 18th Nov 1894 aged 16 years old as a Boy 2nd Class. He rose through the rank from Boy 1st Class 1895, Ordinary Seaman 1896, Able Seaman 1898 and Blacksmith May 1906.

When WW1 broke out he was on HMS Pembroke II, then HMS Mars, HMS Royal Panther, HMS Pembroke II and then finally HMS Chatham.

Thomas finally left the Navy in late 1919 and was also awarded his Long Service & Good Conduct Medal.