Colonel Percy Edward Langworthy-Parry DSO OBE TD was born on 22 February 1869. He married Dora Lankester on 18 July 1899 and they had three children, one of whom was Rear Admiral Cecil Ramsden Langworthy Parry RN.1
Gazetted Second Lieutenant with the 19th Middlesex (St Giles’s and St George’s Bloomsbury) Volunteer Rifle Corps on 5 December 1891 (the same Gazette that saw Col Shipley, a fellow future CO of the Regiment, promoted Lieutenant). Promoted Lieutenant in 1893, Captain in 1896, and Major in 1907, he was given the TD.
He volunteered again at the outbreak of War, reinstated as a Major in the 2nd Battalion on 6 September, 1914 (LG 30 Sept 1914). He went to France as the Second in Command, much like Dickins, and like him succeeded to the Command of his Battalion, in this case on the death of Lt Col A R Berry TD in March 1917. His DSO was awarded in the New Year’s Honours List in 1918.
After the Armistice he remained with the Regiment and was appointed to command the 1st Battalion from 1921 to 1926 in succession to another Brother, Col Dickins. He is one of eight Brethren to have commanded the Regiment.
Initiated in the Lodge in October 1924, having already commanded the Regiment, he rose through the ranks of the Lodge to Junior Warden in 1929, but was never invested due to ill health. Illness prevailed and he died in February 1930. He was 61.
The London Times published his his Obituary on 3 March 1930 (pg 19):
“A correspondent writes;—
Many soldiers will learn with deep regret of the death in a London nursing home of a very gallant gentleman. Colonel Percy Edward Longworthy Parry, DSO OBE TD late Queen Victoria’s Rifles. Colonel Longworthy Parry, who was born on February 22, 1869, was gazetted to the old 19th Middlesex VRC on April 12, 1891; he was promoted captain in 1896, and major in 1907. He retired as such on December 11, 1912, having been granted the TD on October 10, 1911.
At the outbreak of the War, Major Parry returned to the active list us a Major in the 2nd Battalion of his old regiment, Queen Victoria’s Rifles. He proceeded to France with the 58th (2nd London) Division in February, 1917, as second-in-command of his battalion, but succeeded to the command a few weeks later.
For the next 11 months he commanded his battalion with conspicuous success, and saw much heavy fighting, including that at Bullecourt in May and the third Battle of Ypres. During this period he proved himself a bold commander and it can truthfully be said he was greatly beloved by those who served with him. He was awarded the DSO on January 1, 1918, and was twice mentioned in dispatches. He was invalided home at the close of 1917, and was appointed to command the 3rd/8th London Regiment (POR). For his good work in that capacity he was made OBE in June, 1919. In 1921 he was gazetted to the command of Queen Victoria’s Rifles, which he held until his period of service expired in January, 1926.
He was made brevet colonel in 1924, with precedence from 1922, and full colonel on his retirement. During his period of command he did much to re-establish and reorganize the battalion, particularly as regards the training. He was attached to the Senior Offlcers School at Woking, being one of the first Territorial officers to be selected.
He leaves a widow and one son, a lieutenant in the Royal Navy, He had two other sons, who were both unfortunately killed in motor accidents a few years ago within a short time of each other.
A memorial service will be held tomorrow at St Anselm’s Church, Davies Street, W1 at II am“