PARK (PARKE), Thomas Alexander

DIVISIONAL UNIT:         Reserve Brigade
                                             Canadian Field Artillery
                                             Canadian Artillery Corps
SERVICE NO:                   339200
RESIDENCE:                    Vanderhoof – British Columbia
DATE OF BIRTH:            March 5, 1886 or 1891
                                             Stanley Township – County of Huron - Ontario
DATEOF DEATH:            October 23, 1918                 32 years     7 months     or     27 years     5 months
CEMETERY:                     Bodelwyddan (St Margaret) Churchyard – Bodelwyddan –
                                             Denbighshire – Wales
                                             445
PARENTS:                         Mr. Andrew and Martha Jane Parke – Nelson – British Columbia
BROTHER:                        Mr. Fergus Parke – Vanderhoof – British Columbia
Occupation:                        Farmer / Rancher                 Religion:     Presbyterian
Enlistment:                         August 15, 1916 – Vanderhoof – British Columbia into 68th Overseas Depot Field Battery
Enlistment Age:                 30 years     5 months     or     25 years     5 months

The 1891 Canadian Census shows the family to be in Hay Township
The 1901 Canadian Census shows the family (mother and children) to be in Seaforth.
The 1911 Canadian Census shows the reunited family living in Nelson, British Columbia.
The 1916 Canadian Census shows Thomas living on a farm in North Battleford with a group of other men who were employed as labourers on a road grading crew.
Following his enlistment, he transferred on August 9, 1917 to 1st Depot Battalion of the British Columbia Regiment.
On May 8, 1918 he transferred to 6th Depot Battery of the Canadian Field Artillery.
He departed Canada from Quebec on the His Majesty’s Troopship Themistocies and arrived in London on 
September 25, 1918.
He was then taken on strength with the Reserve Brigade of the Canadian Field Artillery based in Witley.
On October 17, 1918 Gunner Parke was admitted to a Military Hospital in Kimmel Park complaining of very bad headaches and generally not feeling well along with a high temperature and rapid breathing. He was diagnosed with broncho-pneumonia and then stimulants and cardiac tonics were prescribed but the disease ran an unfavourable course. He then became cyanotic and his respirations varied from 30-50 per minute and his temperature ranged from 102 – 105 degrees. His pulse was weak and thread – bubbling rales in his chest – stimulants, heart tonics and oxygen were given with no effect or improvement. 
Gunner Parke died from heart failure at 19:10 pm and the cause was broncho-pneumonia attributed to exposure to infection during his training.