Lance Corporal Charles Alfred Parker, No.2 Commando kia 18/4/42

[Photo: Symon Wilkins, great nephew in law, on behalf of the remaining Parker family.]

Lance Corporal Charles Parker died whilst taking part in intelligence gathering operations from Malta. Landing from submarines of the 10th submarine flotilla utilising folbots they would gather information and be picked up later.
Lance Corporal Parker was on board HMS Upholder when it left Malta on the 6th April 1942. During a recorded interview with Sgt William 'Tan' Rudge DCM, himself one of the No 2 Commando intelligence gathering force, Sergeant Rudge states "Charlie Parker died after the sinking of the sub Upholder." The submarine was assumed sunk after contact was lost on the 14th April 1942.
Extract from the website 'U Boat History'
"10 Apr 1942 In the evening, Captain 'Tug' Wilson, RM and Lance Corporal Charles Parker of the Beds and Herts Regiment and two Arab saboteurs were landed to sabotage a railway near Sousse (reported completed at 2301B/10). The two Britons returned to the submarine and Captain Wilson was transferred to HMS Unbeaten (Lt.Cdr. E.A. Woodward, DSO, RN) at 0340 hours on 11 April in position 35°34'N, 12°17'E as this submarine was proceeding to Gibraltar. Wilson was the last man to see the crew of HMS Upholder. Upholder was then sent to patrol east of Djerba Island and then received an order to form a patrol line with HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, RN) and HMS Urge (Lt.Cdr. E.P. Tomkinson, DSO and Bar, RN) to intercept an important convoy approaching Tripoli from the east (the Aprilia convoy). Upholder was not heard from again."

In Memory of 5950711 Lance Corporal Charles Alfred Parker
Beds and Herts Regt. and No 2 Commando
who died on the 18th April 1942 aged 22
Remembered with honour on the Brookwood Memorial.