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Historical records matching Frederick Daniel Parslow, VC
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About Frederick Daniel Parslow, VC
Frederick Daniel Parslow VC (14 January 1856 – 4 July 1915) English recipient of the Victoria Cross
PARSLOW, FREDERICK DANIEL
Rank: Master
Trade: Lieutenant R.N.R.
Date of Death: 04/07/1915
Age: 59
Regiment/Service: Mercantile Marine H.M.T. "Anglo Californian" (London)
Awards: V C
Grave Reference: B. 15. 8.
Cemetery: COBH OLD CHURCH CEMETERY
Citation
The London Gazette dated 24th May 1919 records the following:-
"For most conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when in command of the Horse Transport "Anglo Californian" on the 4th July 1915. At 8am on 4th July 1915 a large submarine was sighted on the port beam at the distance of one mile. The ship, which was entirely unarmed, was immediately manoeuvred to bring the submarine astern; every effort was made to increase speed, and a S.O.S. call was sent out by wireless, an answer being received by a man-of war. At 9a.m. the submarine opened fire making occasional hits until 10.30a.m. meanwhile Lieutenant Parslow constantly altered course and kept the submarine astern. At 10.30a.m. the enemy hoisted the signal to abandon the vessel as fast as possible and in order to save life Lt. Parslow decided to obey and stopped engines to give as many of the crew as wished the opportunity to get away in the boats. On receiving a wireless message from a destroyer however urging him to hold on for as long as possible he decided to get way on the ship again. The submarine then opened a heavy fire on the bridge and boats with guns and rifles wrecking the upper bridge, killing Lt. Parslow and carrying away one of the port davits causing the boat to drop into the sea and throwing its occupants into the water. At about 11a.m. two destroyers arrived on the scene and the submarine dived. Throughout the attack Lt. Parslow remained on the bridge on which the enemy fire was concentrated entirely without protection and by his magnificent heroism succeeded, at the cost of his own life, in saving a valuable ship and cargo for his own country. He set a splendid example to the officers and men of the Mercantile Marine."
Parslow was a Master in the Mercantile Marine, and the first from that Service to be awarded a Victoria Cross. He was the oldest person to receive the VC for actions in World War I.
Aged 59, he was a Mercantile Marine Master during the First World War when the following took place for which he was eventually awarded the VC in 1919. The award was delayed until after World War I because of his civilian status
The Royal Navy gave Parslow a posthumous commission as Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve, and then awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.
On 4 July 1915 in the Atlantic, south-west of Queenstown, Ireland, HM Horse Transport Anglo-Californian, commanded by Captain Parslow, was attacked by a submarine which made occasional hits although the Captain kept altering course. At last, on the point of abandoning ship in order to save lives, a message was received to hold on as long as possible and Anglo-Californian got under way again, whereupon the U-boat opened a very heavy fire, doing great damage. Captain Parslow remained on the bridge throughout the attack, entirely without protection and was killed when the bridge was wrecked.
His son, also Frederick Parslow, was the Mate, and took command on the demise of his father. Commanding the ship with his father's body beside him, the son held out until two British destroyers arrived to drive the submarine away. The ship suffered twenty casualties, but its cargo of nearly a thousand military horses was safe. The younger Parslow was given a commission as Sub-Lieutenant in the Royal Navy Reserve, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Daniel_Parslow
- Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Dec 27 2016, 11:39:09 UTC
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Frederick Daniel Parslow, VC's Timeline
| 1856 |
January 14, 1856
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Islington, London, Middlesex, England UK
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| 1887 |
1887
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Islington, London, Middlesex, England UK
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| 1888 |
1888
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S. Hornsey, London, Middlesex, England UK
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| 1891 |
1891
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South Hornsey, London, Middlesex, England UK
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| 1892 |
1892
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Stoke Newington, London, Middlesex, England UK
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| 1897 |
1897
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Stoke Newington, London, Middlesex, England UK
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1897
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Stoke Newington, London, Middlesex, England UK
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| 1915 |
July 4, 1915
Age 59
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At Sea - Atlantic Ocean
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