Most decorated · 15 medals and honours, 2 for gallantry
Brigadier Graham Parkinson
Ike Parkinson was a regular New Zealand gunner who joined the army from the Duntroon military college and served with the NZ Field Artillery on the Western Front in 1917-18. In the Second World War he commanded the 4th Field Regiment in the Western Desert and Greece, then the 6th Infantry Brigade in Italy, and for a fortnight in March 1944 the whole 2nd NZ Division at Cassino. He won the DSO and a bar and was made a CBE, and with the other awards he has 15 honours and medals in all.
15medals and honours
2of them for gallantry
His medals and honours
Won for gallantry
Gallantry award
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Western Desert 1940; Greece, April 1941 (Pinios Gorge withdrawal 20 April 1941); Egypt 1941 · Western Desert; Pinios Gorge and Molos, Greece; Egypt · Brigadier (temporary), 4th Field Regiment, Royal New Zealand Artillery
Gazetted: London Gazette 35526 (supplement), p.1694, issue of 14 April 1942 (supplement dated 16 April 1942), 'gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East, July to October 1941'
Parkinson took the 4th Field Regiment overseas with the First Echelon in 1940 and led it through the Libyan fighting that winter and the Greek campaign of April 1941. The citation singles out the withdrawal from the Pinios Gorge on 20 April 1941, where his resourcefulness and leadership were largely responsible for getting a large part of the New Zealand force away, and the battle at Molos and the retreat afterwards, where he showed great coolness and gallantry. Back in Egypt he spent months rebuilding a regiment depleted by losses in Greece and Crete and by constant calls for staff officers and officer cadets, bringing it back to a high standard. The citation closes by praising his unselfish service over a long period and noting that he had been chosen to raise and command a New Zealand tank brigade. He was by then a brigadier, having been promoted in August 1941 to run the training group at Maadi Camp.
The Cenotaph attributes its transcribed citation to 'NZ Gazette, 21 September 1944', which is odd for a 1941 act (probably a later NZ re-publication or a data-entry slip); the London Gazette of April 1942 is the primary source. The Gazette page header reads 16 April 1942 while the issue is dated 14 April 1942 (Wikipedia gives 14 April).
Counted in his gallantry totalSource: London Gazette 35526 (supplement), p.1694, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35526/supplement/1694 (read: Parkinson listed under the DSO, Middle East July-October 1941); Online Cenotaph record C36130, https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C36130 (citation wording); Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, 'Parkinson, Graham Beresford' (J. A. B. Crawford), https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/5p12/parkinson-graham-beresford
Bar: a second award
Bar to the Distinguished Service Order
Italy, December 1943 to 1944 (period of Sangro, Cassino and the 6th Brigade command) · Italy · Brigadier, 6th NZ Infantry Brigade (acting commander 2nd NZ Division, March 1944)
Gazetted: London Gazette 36764 (supplement), p.4904, War Office 26 October 1944
The bar was approved by the King as one of the awards to New Zealand Military Forces 'in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Italy'. Parkinson had taken over the 6th Infantry Brigade in April 1943 and led it across the Sangro River at the end of the year. When Howard Kippenberger was wounded on 2 March 1944 Freyberg gave him the division, and he held it, as temporary major-general, through the costly assault on Cassino in mid-March; critics have said he committed too little infantry, but the bar followed that period. He returned to the 6th Brigade, served as the division's Commander Royal Artillery from June to August 1944, and then led the brigade again until the end of the Italian campaign. The gazette entry carries no individual citation text, so what exactly the bar rewarded is a matter of interpretation.
Wikipedia ties the bar to Cassino; Te Ara says it was for his services in Italy generally. The Gazette gives no citation. The Cenotaph's 'NZ Gazette 21 September 1944' may belong here rather than to the first DSO.
Counted in his gallantry totalSource: London Gazette 36764 (supplement), p.4904, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36764/supplement/4904 (read); Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, 'Parkinson, Graham Beresford' (J. A. B. Crawford), https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/5p12/parkinson-graham-beresford; Wikipedia, 'Graham Beresford Parkinson', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graham_Beresford_Parkinson
Every other medal and honour (13)
British War Medal 1914-1920Service 1917-1919Qualified by overseas service with the New Zealand Field Artillery in Egypt, France and Belgium, 1917-18.Victory MedalService 1917-1919Issued with the British War Medal for the same overseas service in 1917-18.Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)Italy, 1944-45 · ItalyParkinson was appointed an Additional Commander of the Military Division of the Order of the British Empire in the 28 June 1945 list, in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Italy. He had commanded…1939-1945 StarService 1940-1945Qualified by operational service with 2NZEF from 1940 in the Middle East, Greece and Italy.Africa Star (8th Army clasp)Service 1940-1943Qualified by service in North Africa, including the 1940 Western Desert fighting; the 8th Army clasp is recorded by the Cenotaph.Italy StarService 1943-1945Qualified by service with the 6th Brigade and divisional artillery in Italy, 1943-45.Defence MedalService 1941-1943Listed by the Cenotaph; presumably for his service in New Zealand between November 1941 and January 1943.War Medal 1939-1945 with oak leaf (MiD)Service 1939-1945Awarded for 28 days or more of full-time service in the Second World War; the oak leaf marks a mention in despatches.Legion of Merit, Degree of Officer (United States)Italy, 1944-45 (permission to wear gazetted 1947) · ItalyThe President of the United States conferred the Legion of Merit, Degree of Officer, on Parkinson in recognition of distinguished services in the cause of the Allies. The 20 March 1947 gazette lists him with other…New Zealand War Service MedalService 1939-1945Issued to New Zealanders who served full-time in the Second World War.Officer of the Order of St John (OStJ)1954-55 · ChristchurchAfter retiring from the army Parkinson became secretary-treasurer of the St John Ambulance Association in Christchurch in December 1951 and worked to strengthen it until 1961. He appears as 'Graham Beresford…New Zealand Long and Efficient Service MedalDate not foundListed by the Cenotaph; presumably for long regular service in the New Zealand Military Forces.Mentioned in DespatchesLate 1940 (first Libyan campaign); further mentions c.1941-42 and 1944-45 · Western Desert; Middle East; ItalyTe Ara records that Parkinson was mentioned in despatches for his work in the first Libyan campaign in late 1940, was mentioned again alongside his DSO after Greece, and was mentioned once more among the honours for…
His story
Duntroon
Won a New Zealand cadetship at the Royal Military College, Duntroon, and graduated in April 1916 as a lieutenant in the Royal New Zealand Artillery.
Source: Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, 'Parkinson, Graham Beresford' (J. A. B. Crawford), https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/5p12/parkinson-graham-beresford
Western Front gunner
After a spell as a training-camp instructor he embarked in June 1917 with the 27th Reinforcements, New Zealand Field Artillery (HMNZT 86, Maunganui per the Cenotaph). He served in Egypt, France and Belgium, and was adjutant of the 1st Brigade NZFA; he returned to New Zealand in mid 1919.
Source: Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, 'Parkinson, Graham Beresford' (J. A. B. Crawford), https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/5p12/parkinson-graham-beresford; Online Cenotaph record C36130, https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C36130
Interwar regular officer
Went to Fiji with a small force in February 1920, took a gunnery course in England in 1925-27, was promoted major in November 1932 and from 1937 commanded the Royal New Zealand Artillery. He became a substantive lieutenant-colonel in September 1939.
Source: Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, 'Parkinson, Graham Beresford' (J. A. B. Crawford), https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/5p12/parkinson-graham-beresford
4th Field Regiment: Libya and Greece
Embarked with the First Echelon in January 1940, was mentioned in despatches for the first Libyan campaign, and in April 1941 his leadership was central to the Pinios Gorge withdrawal in Greece. The DSO followed.
Source: Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, 'Parkinson, Graham Beresford' (J. A. B. Crawford), https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/5p12/parkinson-graham-beresford; London Gazette 35526 (supplement), p.1694, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35526/supplement/1694
Tank brigade and home commands
Promoted brigadier in August 1941, he returned to New Zealand to form the 1st Army Tank Brigade, briefly commanded the 7th Infantry Brigade, and went back to the Middle East in January 1943.
Source: Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, 'Parkinson, Graham Beresford' (J. A. B. Crawford), https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/5p12/parkinson-graham-beresford
6th Brigade and Cassino
Took the 6th Infantry Brigade in April 1943, led it across the Sangro, and as temporary major-general commanded the 2nd NZ Division during the unsuccessful March 1944 assault on Cassino.
Source: Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, 'Parkinson, Graham Beresford' (J. A. B. Crawford), https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/5p12/parkinson-graham-beresford; Online Cenotaph record C36130, https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C36130
Italy to the end of the war
Divisional artillery commander June to August 1944, then the 6th Brigade again to the end of the Italian campaign. The bar to the DSO (October 1944), the CBE (June 1945) and the American Legion of Merit followed.
Source: London Gazette 36764 (supplement), p.4904, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36764/supplement/4904; London Gazette 37151 (supplement), p.3366, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37151/supplement/3366
Staff and retirement
Commanded NZ troops in Egypt in 1945, was quartermaster-general in 1946, military liaison officer in London from December 1946, and commandant of the Southern Military District in 1949-51. He retired as a brigadier in April 1952.
Source: Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, 'Parkinson, Graham Beresford' (J. A. B. Crawford), https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/5p12/parkinson-graham-beresford
St John Ambulance
From December 1951 he was secretary-treasurer of the St John Ambulance Association in Christchurch until 1961, was appointed an Officer of the Order of St John, and died in Christchurch in July 1979.
Source: Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, 'Parkinson, Graham Beresford' (J. A. B. Crawford), https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/5p12/parkinson-graham-beresford; London Gazette 40378 (supplement), p.159, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/40378/supplement/159
Rank and insignia
The ranks he held, and the badge a soldier of that rank wore. These are simplified illustrations.
LieutenantApril 1916 · Royal NZ ArtilleryShoulder strap: two pipsCaptainJanuary 1921Shoulder strap: three pipsMajorNovember 1932Shoulder strap: crownTemporary Lieutenant-Colonel1937 (lost April 1938, regained 1939); substantive September 1939 · then substantive Lieutenant-ColonelShoulder strap: crown and one pipBrigadierAugust 1941 · temporaryShoulder strap: crown and three pipsTemporary Major-GeneralMarch 1944 (relinquished after Cassino) · commanding 2nd NZ DivisionShoulder strap: crossed sword and baton, one pipBrigadierApril 1952 · retiredShoulder strap: crown and three pips
His ships
HMNZT 86 MaunganuiTroopship to the Middle East/Western Front, 1917Cenotaph embarkation record: 27th Reinforcements, NZ Field Artillery, 12 June to 15 August 1917 (as the Cenotaph dates the voyage).
Afterwards
Parkinson left the army in 1952 as a brigadier, though the Cenotaph and Wikipedia list his last rank as major-general because of the temporary March 1944 appointment. From December 1951 to 1961 he was secretary-treasurer of the St John Ambulance Association in Christchurch, and was appointed an Officer of the Order of St John in January 1955.
Te Ara describes him as a highly competent brigade commander, hard-fighting and shrewd. He died in Christchurch on 10 July 1979 and is buried at Ruru Lawn Cemetery; his wife Barbara survived him until 1982. There were no children.
Later awards, not counted here: DSO (April 1942); Bar to DSO (October 1944); CBE (June 1945); Legion of Merit, Officer (USA); Mention in Despatches; 1939-1945 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence Medal; War Medal 1939-1945 with oak leaf; NZ War Service Medal.
This is the Service Record sign as we would make it from his record: his rank, name, regiment, number and date of embarkation. The medals on the sign are worked out automatically, so the medals listed above are the ones to rely on.
The Service Record
Photograph
We haven’t hosted a photograph here
Rather than copy someone else’s image onto our own site, we’d rather send you to see it where it’s properly held: his full record at the Auckland War Memorial Museum’s Online Cenotaph.
WW1 service confirmed: Cenotaph (service no. 50614, embarked as lieutenant with 27th Reinforcements NZFA on HMNZT 86; adjutant/temporary captain 1st Brigade NZFA, France and Belgium 1917-18) and Te Ara (embarked June 1917, served in Egypt and France, home mid 1919). Born in Wellington 1896; a New Zealander. Slight caveat: he trained at the Australian military college at Duntroon on a New Zealand cadetship, and his 1917 role is given as brigade adjutant (Cenotaph) or brigade major (Wikipedia).
Cenotaph lists 'DSO and bar (DSO*)' as one entry; reconciled into two items (DSO + bar).
Death date: Te Ara and Wikipedia say 10 July 1979; the Cenotaph says 12 July 1979.
Last rank: Cenotaph and Wikipedia say Major General, but Te Ara says he retired as a brigadier; major-general rank was temporary (March 1944).
Cenotaph attributes the DSO citation to 'NZ Gazette 21 September 1944'; the London Gazette entry for the DSO is 16 April 1942 and the bar is 26 October 1944. The citation text appears to be the 1941-42 DSO citation.
Mentions in Despatches: number not confirmed from the Gazette; Te Ara implies up to three. Counted as ONE item.
The Africa Star 8th Army clasp, Defence Medal and NZ Long and Efficient Service Medal rest on the Cenotaph alone; qualification not independently verified. Without them the total would be 12 at minimum. No 1937 Coronation or other commemorative medal is listed by the Cenotaph, and none was added.
Legion of Merit date: the gazette records permission to wear (20 March 1947); the actual American conferral date was not found. Not counted as gallantry.
The Wikipedia/Cenotaph London Gazette reference for the Bar (36764 p.4904) was checked and does carry 'Bar to the Distinguished Service Order. Brigadier Graham Beresford Parkinson, D.S.O. (1522)'.
