| Surname: | Parsons |
| Initials: | R T G |
| Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Army Number: | 7681891 |
| Notes: | MFP. Awarded the Victory and War Medals and Territorial Force War Medals. Formerly Pte. Worcestershire Regt. No. 5515, later Tank Corps. No. 309081. He has 2 x medal cards, 1 x Parsons R T G Territorial Force War Medal and 2 x Parsons Reginald T G, Victory and War Medals showing same details. Transferred to MFP 21/5/1920. Pre 1920 MFP No. 1899. Died 24/2/1931. Reginald T G Parson. Extract from the Exeter & Plymouth Gazette, 16/3/31. Corporal R Parsons of the Military Foot Police, Hyde Park Barracks, Knightsbridge, London, youngest son of Mrs and the late Mr Parsons of Clyst St. George (nr Exeter) who died recently was buried at Brookwood Cemetery with full military honour. He leaves a widow and 1 child. Extract from the Daily Mirror 28 February 1931. Complaint of Husband's Treatment at a Military Hospital. Criticism of her husband's treatment while in the Queen Alexandra military Hospital at Millbank was made at a Westminster inquest yesterday by the widow of Corporal Reginald Parsons, of the Military Foot Police, who was found hanged in the hospital. Dr. J B McGregor said as Parsons had delusions he was placed under observation. Mrs Parsons said she did not think her husband should have known so much about what he was in there for. He was most unhappy because he thought he was under observation and going "batch." The verdict was suicide while of unsound mind. Extract from the Westminster & Pimilco News 6 March 1931. HOSPITAL TRADGEDY. Patient Found Hanged. The suicide of a corporal in the Military Foot Police, who became depressed following an attack of influenza was described to the Deputy Coroner (Mr Temple Grey) at the Westminster Coroner's Court on Friday. The inquiry concerned the death of Reginald Thomas George Parsons (34), who was quartered at Hyde Park Barracks. He had served 16 years, and won the Military Medal during the war. His home was at Clyst St George Exeter. The widow Mrs Ethel Parsons, said her husband had been under treatment at Queen Alexandra Military Hospital, Millbank. in October last he had influenza, and since then he had been subject to fits of depression. "Otherwise.~" said the widow, "my husband was one of the best men who ever walked. Since his illness he had not seemed the same man. When I saw him in hospital on Tuesday he seemed very low and unhappy. He has never threatened to take his life." Dr James R McGregor, of Queen Alexandra Military Hospital, said Parsons had undergone an operation for nasal trouble. He seemed worried over his health, but a specialist, who performed the operation told him that there was nothing further the matter with him. Doctors Puzzled Over His Metal State. "We were rather puzzled over his mental state." said witness, "and it was decided to admit him for observation. He had complained of abdominal pains, and being unable to sleep. There was no foundation for his belief that he had some serious disease and he was regarded as a little abnormal mentally. He was a border line case. It was reported that he had had delusions and he was transferred to another ward for closer observations. He was not under restraint. Violet Briggs a ward sister at the hospital said the man had never threatened to take his life and was allowed to go round the hospital if he wanted to. He had complained of headaches and had fits of slight depression. Private Sydney Carter, Royal Army Medical Corps, stationed at Mill Bank Hospital said he was engaged in a search for Parsons, who was reported missing from his ward, and found him hanging by a piece of window cord from a hot water pipe in the basement. He had apparently stood on a table and kicked it aside. He was examined by one of the hospital doctors and found to be dead. Dr. John Taylor, pathologist, who made a post mortem examination of the body, said the deceased was a strongly built man. Death was due to asphyxia, from hanging. The Coroner: Influenza is sometimes followed by severe depression. Witness; It is not at all uncommon. The Rev. Reginald Gibbs of Aldenham, Herts, said he had known Parsons since he was a boy. He had visited him in hospital and though he seemed strange. Widow's Protest. At this stage the widow said " I do not think my husband was treated fairly at the hospital. He thought he was awaiting an examination for the stomach pains he complained of, but he heard other patients say that he was under observation and that he was going batchy. Some of them were lads and he had been 16 years in the army. He did not like to feel that the other patients as well as the orderlies were watching him. In his presence a corporal said "We know what you are under observation for" and pointed with his finger to his head. He had the idea that they were waiting for him to lose his reason and that he would be put away in solitary confinement." The Coroner: There was no foundation for that. Some individuals may have shown some lack of tact, but the hospital in not responsible for that. The coroner recorded a verdict of "Suicide whilst of unsound mind," and expressed sympathy with relatives.. |
Decoration Record: | |
| Decoration: | Territorial Force War Medal (London Gazette: WO 329/3270 Page: 15 Sept. 29, 1922) |
| Citation: | Formerly Pte Worcestershire Regiment, No. 214889. |
| Decoration: | Military Medal (London Gazette: 30095 Page: 5194 May 26, 1917) |
| Citation: | 241889 Pte. R T G Parsons, Worcestershire Regiment. |