Samuel Derek “Snow” Parker

Trooper · NZ #21963 · T1 Patrol

What this roll records

Aged 91 at death. Buried/commemorated: Taruheru Cemetery, Gisborne (RSA Section). Derrickman in civilian life. Embarked/served with 2nd Divisional Cavalry Regiment. Known as "Snow". Listed as "Derek Samuel Parker" on the Nominal Roll. Source: Auckland War Memorial Museum Online Cenotaph.

Cenotaph record linked. Source: Auckland War Memorial Museum Online Cenotaph.

March 1942 roll (courtesy Tarek el Mahdy)

Barce Raid, Sept 1942 (courtesy Tarek el Mahdy): Driver — WIA / T6

Captured in North Africa: T1 Patrol, 14 Sep 1942, Barce. Source: "Names of LRDG NZ personnel captured in North African campaign" (per Brendan O’Carroll).

The Kiwi Scorpions (Brendan O'Carroll): Sgt D. S. Parker — derrickman, Gisborne; born NZ, 24 Feb 1918; wounded 14 Sep 1942. (Master records this man as Samuel Derek Parker, b. 1919; official history gives born 24 Feb 1918 — to reconcile.)

Original member of the Long Range Patrol (LRP), 1940 — listed with the “LRP” comment in the nominal roll, The Kiwi Scorpions (Brendan O'Carroll).

At the guns in Captain Wilder’s truck during the break-out from Barce (13–14 September 1942); helped attack the tanks with grenades and was severely wounded, then carried out with Wilder in the following jeep. Source: ‘The Barce Raid’, Episodes & Studies Vol. 1 (NZ official war history).

Derrickman, of Gisborne; born NZ, 24 Feb 1918. Wounded 14 Sep 1942. Source: Episodes & Studies Vol. 1 (biographical notes).

Took part in the Barce Raid with T1 Patrol, 13/14 September 1942. The patrol was largely captured; he was taken prisoner of war. Source: Brendan O’Carroll, ‘The Kiwi Scorpions’ (Appendix VIII, T1 Patrol members who took part in the Barce Raid, September 1942).

DERRICKMAN (oil wells, Ngapata) in civilian life. Source: Auckland War Memorial Museum Online Cenotaph.

See him in the full roll →

Where this comes from

• Missing info added from the LRDG Preservation Society’s Troopers roll.
• AKA added from the LRDG Preservation Society’s Troopers roll (missing information).
• Additional sources (AWMM Online Cenotaph). Nominal Roll 2NZEF No. 2, p.144. Unit history: Loughnan, R. (1963). Divisional Cavalry. Also cited: Evening Post, 25 September 1942, p.3; Death notice, Dominion Post, 22 June 2010.

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