Identity area
Type of entity
Authorized form of name
Parnham, A. L.
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
History
Andrew L. Parnham was born in Inverskip, Scotland and came to Edmonton in 1911. He enlisted in the 51st Battalion in 1915. Ellen Morrison, born in Glascow, Scotland came to Canada in 1911 with her parents, eventually moving to Edmonton in 1920. The Parnhams were married September 15, 1922 and had a daughter Laura (Mrs. H. L. Gibbons) and a son, Douglas, Lt. Col. D.L. Harwood [Reginald de Lotbinere Harwood], formerly of the 101 Fusiliers. He was authorized to raise the 51st Battalion of Edmonton in December 1914. In November 1915 the Battalion was the first unit to occupy the Prince of Wales Armoury in Edmonton. Sixteen of the commissioned officers had risen through the ranks of the 101st Fusiliers. Some were veterans of the Boer war. The 51st Battalion embarked for the European Front as part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), leaving Edmonton for Halifax on April 1, 1916 and sailing on the SS Metagama. In Britain, the Battalion was posted to the 5th Division at Bramshott Camp. In June 1915 they were sent to France to reinforce the 1st Division. Parnham ended up in a group sent to reinforce the 15th Battalion and 48th Highlanders of Canada. He fought in the Battle of the Somme, where he was wounded, and later in the Battle of Amiens. The 49th Battalion, also of Edmonton, was formally dissolved in 1920 but was renamed The Edmonton Regiment on March 15, 1920 and reorganized to include the 1st, 51st, and 63rd Battalions. In World War II Parnham re-enlisted with the 51st Battalion, Loyal Edmonton Regiment. In April 1975 the 51st Battalion Association was discontinued.