William Parke

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General Sir William Parke was born on 17th May 1822 at Henbury, Dorset in England. He was the son of Charles Parke a land owner and Letitia Alcock, the sister of Thomas Alcock (MP). Parke was commissioned in 1840 into the Duke of Albany's own Highlanders.

He served in the Crimean War, commanding the 72nd Highlanders from June 1855, and became Lieutenant Colonel in the same year, taking part in the expedition to Kertch and the siege of Sevastapol.

Posted to India at the time of the Indian Rebellion of 1857 he was First Class Brigadier and from March 1858 commanded the second brigade of the Rajaputana Field Force and led the assault on Kotah in 1859. He also took part in the pursuit of Tantya Tope and Rao Sahib in Central India. In 1860 he transferred to the 53rd Foot. Parke held numerous staff positions with the home army and became a Major General in 1868, subsequently reaching Lieutenant General in 1877.

After his retirement he served as regimental Colonel with the 2nd battalion Worcester Regiment and subsequently the Seaforth Highlanders in which position he remained until 1897. Parke was decorated with the KCB in 1887, and died on 1897-03-29.

He married Anna Maria, daughter of Major General William Nepean in 1865.

[edit] References

• History of Worcester Regiment 29th/36th Foot
• Times Obituary April 1st 1897