Parkerville

Parkerville is a small vilage in the hills some 30kms. East of Perth, at the time of WW1 it was an administrative district in it's own right, today it is part of Mundaring Shire. The Honour Board hangs in the Parkerville Hall, fortysix names are shown with ten noted as killed in action. Parkerville Childrens Home was founded in 1903 by the Sisters of Charity, one of whom was SisterJane Ashdown who had accompanied a party of fourteen orphaned or abandoned boys from England and regarded them as her special charges, at the outbreak of WW1 these boys were of military age and all volunteered for Army service. Sister Jane wrote to them regularly whilst they were away and grieved for those who died, some of whom left money to her in their wills, this money she donated in their memory to the building of additions to the small wooden chapel that had been built in 1909 in the grounds of the Home. These additions comprising brick apse,rose window and Honour Board were consecrated by the Archbishop of Perth in 1923,Sister Jane died in 1921. The Honour Board within the Chapel Reads:

Parkeville Childrens Home Chapel

This Sanctuary is built to the Glory of God And in everloving memory of Sister Jane whose great wish it was that this work should be undertaken in honour of our dear boys who fell in the Great War 1914-18

524 Private Herbert Hallet, 10th.Lt.Horse AIF killed bayonet charge Gallipoli 29 Aug.1915 Aged 24 years

1789 Driver Lionel Churchill, 8th. Artillery Battery AIF, Killed Shrapnel Alley ,Gallipoli 6th.Oct.1915 Aged 21 Years

3403 Private Edgar Bentley MM,DCM 16th.Btn. 48th.Australian Infantry Killed in France 22nd.Dec.1917 Aged 25 years

3942 Private James Lloyd, 16th. Btn.AIF, Killed in Action, Belgium,26th.Sept 1917 Aged 20 Years

128 Lance Corporal John Lea 11th.Btn. AIF Died of Wounds Belgium 2nd.Nov.1917 Aged 25 Years

557 Private Fred Russell 51st.Btn.AIF Killed 30th.Sept.1918 Aged 20 Years

Thank God that Love is Mightier still than Hate and Bravery makes one kindred of the World. Love kindles love and deeds of bravery makes God above speak gloriously.
All heroes are the offsping of thy blood
To thee we yeild the glory of their deeds

The Chapel foundation stone reads:

To The Glory of God
This Foundation Stone was laid 21st.December 1922
in memory of Anzac by Returned Soldier L.C.*

* believed to be Lawrence Chester who returned to the Home after the War and became Farm Manager

photos and Parkerville Home history courtesy of Lyn Beard

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