Edward John 'Ned' Parfett was a British soldier of World War I, also notable for his appearance as a newspaper seller in a period photograph taken in central London, the day after the sinking of the RMS Titanic on the 15th of April 1912.
Biography[]
The famous photo of Ned Parfett holding the news banner in London, colorized.
Parfett was born on July 21 1896, near Waterloo Station, one of six children. His family had strong ties to Catholicism and were of Irish origin, although they had lived in England since the mid-nineteenth century. The young Ned began working in the construction of buildings in the London area, but after being injured, he went on to work as a newspaper deliveryman.
On April 16, 1912, he heard about the disaster that taken place, and relocated to the streets of Central London, displaying a banner on Trafalgar Square near the offices of the White Star Line, with the evening edition of the news narrating the sinking of the RMS Titanic, which occurred the day before. It said: 'TITANIC DISASTER- GREAT LOSS OF LIFE-. He was 16 years old at the time.
While he was doing his task, he was brilliantly illustrated. This became one of the most famous photos to come out of the Titanic disaster.
Military career[]
At the outbreak of World War I in 1914, Ned was only 18 years old, yet he did not join the army until two years later, when Ned went on to enlist in the Royal Artillery in mid-1916.
Ned Parfett as a soldier, at the age of 20.
In 1916, first as a dispatch rider, he was re-assigned to reconnaissance duties. Ned didn't flinch at combat despite his little expierence. He was awarded the Military Medal and was included in several dispatches for his gallentry during several missions at the front lines. Ned was one of four brothers to serve. All would return home after the war except Ned. This tragic event happened less than two weeks before the end of the war. Had Ned gotten his leave, he would have been home at the time the Armistice was signed.
On October 29, 1918, just two weeks before the end of the war, he lost his life to the nearby fall of a howitzer during one of the last German bombing raids on his positions. Ned was due to go home on leave and stopped by the Quartermaster's stores to get some new clothes. While he was there, an enemy shell hit the building and Ned was one of those killed. He was 22 years old.
He was buried in the British War Cemetery at Verchain - Maugre in France.
Sources[]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxjsyg3ISh0 - channel shounvolution: Titanic Newspaper Boy | Edward John Parfett | Ned Parfett