(Wales/Z/2966)
William Henry Parsons was born in 1886. He was the son of Walter and Jane Parsons of 5 Station Terrace, Cinderford. After leaving Double View Secondary School in Cinderford he worked at one of the local collieries before moving to Penarth to work as an engine driver in a cement works. He joined the Royal Navy in 1916.
Able Seaman William Henry Parsons was a member of the crew of a merchant ship SS Cyrene when she was torpedoed and sunk by UC31, 15 miles north of Bardsey Island in Caernarvon Bay in the Irish Sea on 5 April 1918. Twenty-four of the crew were lost including Able Seaman Parsons.
He has no known grave but the sea, and is commemorated on Plymouth Naval Memorial. He is also remembered on Cinderford Town War Memorial.