Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
Gordon William Parkinson fonds
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Level of description
Fonds
Reference code
RC0365
Edition area
Edition statement
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Class of material specific details area
Statement of scale (cartographic)
Statement of projection (cartographic)
Statement of coordinates (cartographic)
Statement of scale (architectural)
Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)
Dates of creation area
Date(s)
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1916 -1918 (Creation)
Physical description area
Physical description
25 cm of textual records and other material.
Publisher's series area
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Archival description area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Gordon William Parkinson was born on November 18, 1898 in Byron, Ontario. He was the second child of Robert John Parkinson and Katherine Ellen (Hull) Parkinson. In 1904, the family moved to Granton, Ontario. Gordon left his home to work for James McCormick Leather in London, Ontario, to learn the trade of harness maker.
At the age of 17, on April 12, 1916, he voluntarily enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Forces and trained at Merwin Heights in London. He was part of the 142nd Battalion known as “London’s Own Battalion.” On July 8, 1916, his battalion left for Camp Borden by train. On November 1, 1916, the battalion left for England, and Gordon entered Dibgate Camp on November 11, 1916. Gordon crossed the channel to France on March 29, 1918, and was in active service with the First Division Canadian Corps. Throughout his time away from home, Gordon regularly wrote to his father, the family, and to his older brother Bob. He also sent home various items such as souvenirs, and a book titled “Atlas of the War.” Gordon was in the 1st Battalion, First Division Wing, D Coy, when he was killed in action on October 1, 1918. Gordon was buried in the Sancourt British Cemetery in France on October 17, 1918.
Custodial history
Scope and content
The fonds consists of the following series:
Series 1: Letters from Gordon Parkinson, 1916-1918. – 106 letters
Series 2: Letters to Gordon and the Parkinson Family. 1917-1919. – 11 letters
Series 3: Medals andSouvenirs; including a medal from the Township of Briddulph, Canadian Memorial Cross, Parkinson’s identification disk (“dog tag”); brass buttons, badges, and other items.
Series 4: Scrapbook; compiled by Catherine Parkinson Cook (niece of Gordon Parkinson). It contains biographical information on Gordon and the family, photos, military records, photocopies and highlights from his letters, photos of medals and other items.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
Fonds donated by Catherine Parkinson Cook, niece of Gordon Parkinson, in 2013. The second accrual was donated by Parkinson's grand-nephew, Robert Parkinson, in 2014
Arrangement
Language of material
Script of material
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
The letters from Box 1have been digitized and are available on McMaster's Digital Archive.
Restrictions on access
There are no access restrictions.
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
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Associated materials
Accruals
No further accruals are expected.
Alternative identifier(s)
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Control area
Description record identifier
RC0365