Derry Parsons

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Captain R.N.R. (retired) Derry Parsons, R.D. (16 July, 1904 – 8 February, 2001) served in the Royal Naval Reserve.

Life & Career

Derry was born in Penang Malaya, and was educated in Scotland. From 1918-20, he was in the training ship H.M.S. Conway. Upon emerging, he was trained in submarine.[1]

His service in the first half of 1921 had him in Argus and Wrestler. There is then an apparent gap in his service before some time in an Anti-Gas Course and service in Benbow in 1927.[2]

Parsons was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant R.N.R. on 1 February, 1930. He was evaluated as "an officer of the highest quality."

Promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander R.N.R. on 1 February, 1938, Parsons was appointed in command of H.M.S. Mallard on 20 May, 1941.[3] He served in this capacity until the end of March, 1943. Shortly thereafter, he was appointed in command of the old "V" Class destroyer Verdun.

Parsons was promoted to the rank of Commander R.N.R. on 30 June, 1943[4] and continued in command of Verdun until March 1945.

Placed on the Retired List in 1946, Parsons was promoted to the rank of Captain R.N.R. in 1949.[1]

Parsons died at age 96.[1]

See Also

Bibliography

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
William S. Donald
Captain of H.M.S. Verdun
4 May, 1943[5] – Mar, 1945[6]
Succeeded by
Ronald C. Henley

Footnotes

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Times Colonist. Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Sunday, February 11, 2001 p. 32.
  2. Parsons Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 240/60/216. f. 219.
  3. The Navy List. (December, 1941). pp. 204, 1399.
  4. The Navy List. (December, 1943). p. 271.
  5. Uboat.net page on the ship.
  6. Uboat.net page on the ship.