Who was Dr Parry?
Ernest Kent Parry was born at Burwood on 14th September, 1891 and died at Temora on 25th November, 1962. He graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine and Master of Surgery from Sydney University, before enlisting for World War 1 on 10th May 1915, embarking from Sydney on 16th June, 1915.
Service History
From 16th July, 1915 as Ambulance Transport Officer, No. 1 Australian General Hospital, Heliopolis
- From 1st October, 1915 as Regiment Medical officer of 17th Battalion at Gallipoli until evacuation
- From 13th January, 1916 with Australian Light Horse Ambulance against Senussi in Egypt
- From May 1916 to Sinai Desert as R.M.O. in 3rd Light Horse Ambulance at Battle of Romani
- From 28th August 1916 rejoined 1st Light Horse Ambulance at Rafa and the second Gaza battle
- From 23rd April 1917 with 4th Light Horse Ambulance and Beersheba, Jerusalem, Damascus and Homs until demobilization
Rank
- Appointed an Adjutant in 1916
- Promoted to Captain February 1917
- Promoted to Major July 1917
- Awarded Military Cross in January 1918 for “Distinguished Conduct”
- Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel 24th February 1919
He returned to Australia 17th November, 1919 and purchased a medical practice in Temora on 1st July, 1926.
Dr Parry transferred his membership of the Kempsey Sub-branch of the RSL to Temora in 1926. Dr Parry occupied many offices in the Temora R.S.L. and was honoured with a life membership.
Dr Parry was also a founding member of the Temora Golf Club, and did much to advance its progress in the early years.
Dr Parry was a great friend to the people of Temora, particularly to its ex-Servicemen., and his understanding, sympathy and acts of charity were legion. The kindliness of Dr Parry was evidenced by his eagerness to help all by word or deed despite the burden of his own ill-health.
“ In his near 40 years of residence at Temora, Dr Parry had held the position of local Repatriation doctor, and it was through his sympathetic and understanding mind of the difficulties and sufferings of ex-Service personnel that many applicants had been awarded pensions for their disabilities”
Temora Independent, 8th March, 1963.