General Sir William Parke KCB

Appointed Colonel of the 2nd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment on 25th July 1883.

William Parke was born on 17th May 1822 at Lower Henbury, Dorsetshire, son of Charles Parke and Letitia Alcock. Commissioned into the 72nd Foot (Duke of Albany's Own Highlanders) as an Ensign on the 15th December 1840, Lieutenant on 27th September 1842, Captain on 9th January 1849, Major on 1st December 1854 and Lieut.-Colonel on 23rd November 1855.

On the 14 August 1860 he transferred to the 53rd Foot (The Shropshire Regiment).

William Parke's held a number of staff appointments which included:
A.D.C to the Governor of Gibraltar (Sir Robert Thomas Wilson) from 27th October 1846 to 19th June 1849.
Brigadier-General of Field Forces, India from March 1858 to 31st July 1859.
Commandant, School of Military, Fleetwood from August 1861 to September 1864.
Colonel on Saff of S.E. District, Shorncliffe from 1st October 1871 to 30th June 1872.
Brigadier-General at Aldershot from 1st July 1872 to 20th October 1874.

Attained the rank of Major-General on the 6th March 1868.

Appointed on Saff at the S.E. District as Major-General from 21st October 1874 to 31st March 1877.

Attained the rank of Lieut.-General on the 1st October 1877.

He was decorated with the C.B. on the 3rd August 1860 and the K.C.B. on the 21st June 1887.

Following his retirement on the 1st April 1882, Sir General Parke was appointed Colonel of the 2nd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment on 25th July 1883.

On the 29th August 1893 he was appointed Colonel of his old regiment now named the Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs), which was the combination of the 72nd and 78th Foot Regiments. He was Colonel until 30th March 1897.