Major John Parkes

[edscriv]

Any info gratefully received on Major John Parkes (b. 14.05.1908), of Douglas, Isle of Man, served in RAMC in WW2, recognised 1945 for "gallant and distinguished service" while POW in Germany and Italy. Also believed to have been a physician (GP?) in Douglas before and after war. Background and details of wartime service wanted for memorial achives.

[CaroleW]

Welcome to Rootschat

There is a tree on Ancestry but nothing about his WW2 service

He was buried 1.10.1986 Braddan

If you are a descendant you could apply for his WW2 service record

https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=651361.0

[Andy J2022]

The National Archives hold some information about his time as a POW: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C17483059  It is likely that he completed a report for the War Office about his time in captivity on his return to the UK after the end of the war.
Note that his personal number was 88650. With this you should be able to find any London Gazette entries for him, such as when he was commissioned, promoted and resigned his commission.

There are quite a few details about him as a POW on FindMyPast.

He was first reported missing in Cyrenaica in Casualty List No 873 (Officers) dated 11 July 1942, and later reported as no longer a POW in Casualty List No 1788 (Officers) dated 1 June 1945.

[CaroleW]

Brilliant Andy 👏👏

[edscriv]

Thanks to you both for the info. Will certainly pursue those leads. One thing that puzzles me a little is that John Parkes continued to be registered as a medical practitioner at Woodbourne Place, Douglas, throughout the war. But I suppose it was simply prudence on his part to keep the premises registered.

[CaroleW]

It may possibly have also been a residential address - not necessarily where he lived - but part of it was let out to others (?? Flat etc)

If he intended to resume work as a GP it would make sense to retain the premises his patients were used to & particularly where all his equipment was housed

[Andy J2022]

Ted,

Another place you might try is the Museum of Military Medicine. It is just possible that John Parkes may have written about his experiences as medic and POW for his regimental journal or contributed to some allied medical journal. If he kept a diary while in captivity, it may have made its way to the museum after his death.