Private David Parkinson
David Parkinson was born on 29 July 1898 at 11 Kerrera Street, Belfast, the fourth of seven children of cloth beetler John Parkinson and his wife Caroline (née Burniston). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at 69 Disraeli Street, Belfast, with his parents and siblings.
Parkinson enlisted in the North Irish Horse at Antrim on 24 May 1915 (No.1597). He gave his occupation as 'sizer' and his age as 19 years 307 days – he was only 16 at the time.
Parkinson's true age was soon discovered and on 4 June 1915 he was discharged, 'having made a mis-statement as to age on enlistment, soldier under 17 years of age at date of application for discharge' (paragraph 392 vi(a), King's Regulations). His military character was recorded as 'good'.
No record has been found to suggest that he re-enlisted later in the war.
By 1922 Parkinson was living at 69 Disraeli Street and working as a rivetter. On 12 June that year he married Elizabeth Reynolds in St Anne's Parish Church, Belfast. He died on 18 October 1972 and was buried in the Roselawn Cemetery, Belfast.