Parkinson, Robert Roxby

DESCRIPTION

NameParkinson, Robert RoxbyOccupationRailway PorterPlace of ResidenceAlbion Park, Kembla Grange, DaptoBiographyRobert 'Bob' Roxby Parkinson was born in 1894, at Albion Park, to Henry William and Elizabeth Ann Parkinson (nee Roxby).

Bob was the second of four children -

Henry Parkinson b.1892 (died 1896, Albion Park)
Robert Roxby b.1894 (married Muriel Bellvine Couch, Died 1981)
Francis Henry b.1899 (married Harriet Reynolds and Violet Kirkwood)
Ruth Elizabeth b.1908 (married Charles Newton)

Bob's father Henry William Parkinson was a tinsmith at Albion Park. The family home was attached to the shop which was on the corner of Tongarra Road and Russell Street. Henry made many of the town’s water tanks, and milk cans for farmers in the area.

Bob grew up in Albion Park with his siblings Francis and Ruth. His eldest brother Henry died when he was just four years old.

Bob went to Albion Park Public School just across the road from the family home and shop.

In 1910, Bob joined the NSW Government Railway at Albion Park, and when war broke out in 1914, he enlisted in the AIF.

Bob was in the 1st Australian Light Horse ‘A’ Regiment, ‘B’ Squadron. At Gallipoli in 1915 he was severely wounded in the arm after being shot. He was admitted to St Andrews Hospital in Malta, transferred to Manchester Hospital, England, and subsequently discharged.

'The first local soldier to return from overseas for discharge after stopping a Turkish bullet at Gallipoli was Bob Parkinson and what a welcome he got! He stepped from the evening train to find the station yard crammed with horse drawn vehicles and two motor cars in one of which he headed a procession to the Agricultural Hall where tables loaded with edible ammunition awaited the attack. Afterwards a long series of speeches by the mayor, stationmaster, headmaster, postmaster, bank manager and storekeeper plus thanks from Bob and his father must have left the warrior wishing that he was back in the front line' (Weston, Bert, Albion Park Saga, The Tongarra Heritage Society Inc)

Bob married Muriel Bellvine Couch in 1918 and they had two boys, Arthur Henry and John Robert.

Bob worked as a railway porter at many stations, including Unanderra, for about 10 years, until he joined the Steel Works as part of the railway traffic staff in 1935.

Bob, Muriel and their two boys lived at ‘The Lodge’; a small sandstone cottage which sat in between the Princes Highway and the rail line at Kembla Grange.

Their eldest son, Arthur Parkinson when he was 83 in 2001, recalled his happy childhood growing up there and travelling to Unanderra Public School in a horse and cart driven by their neighbour Jack Tate who worked at the milk depot near the school.

Bob was Honorary Secretary of the Dapto RSL Sub-Branch 1940-1945 and an advocate for the formation of the Dapto RSL Bowling Club founded in 1950.

External LinkAlbion Park June 1915Private Parkinson July 1915Trooper R.R. Parkinson Aug 1915Albion Park Sep 1915Albion Park December 1915Wedding Parkinson - Couch 1918Albion Park Wedding 1918Death Mr Henry Parkison 1949

Robert Roxby Parkinson,c.1914.

CONNECTIONS

CollectionPeopleFamilyCouchLocalityAlbion ParkDaptoOrganisationAlbion Park RiflesRelated ItemArthur Parkinson & Fred Moore at Albion Park Pioneer CemeteryParkinson, ArthurHenry William Parkinson's Plumbing Shop and residence, Albion Park 1890-1920Henry William Parkinson's Plumbing Shop and residence, Albion ParkHenry William Parkinson's Plumbing Shop and residence, Albion ParkHenry William Parkinson's plumbing and tinsmith shop, Albion ParkHenry William Parkinson's Plumbing and Tinsmith shop, Albion Park

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Parkinson, Robert Roxby