Son of Frederick and Lucy (nee Kahoro) Parkinson

Brothers Jules Verne (Jeromi) Parkinson (67603) and Rangipuatea Jerome (Harry) Parkinson (802123) served with the Maori Battalion

Falsified birth date and age to enlist and gave the name of an uncle who lived far away as a next of kin.

Jules Vern Parkinson returned to New Zealand on the Hospital Ship Oranje.

Some of the family information was provided by his nephews Wallace Parkinson and Lindsay Charman-Love in conversation with Paul Baker for inclusion in the record: 'Maiki Parkinson turned up to enroll with the 2NZEF but was found to be underage and returned home. Not wanting to miss out on the opportunity to go overseas he returned at a later date and enrolled under the name of Jeromi Parkinson. On arrival in Egypt he was posted to C Company, 28 (Maori) Battalion.

Jules Parkinson was one of a group of soldiers who last spoke to Lt Ngarimu before Ngarimu was killed. J.V. Parkinson tells the story of this battle in a chapter of the book by Megan Hutchins, The Desert Road. In this book he tells of how he lost his leg in a subsequent battle.

Oral history included in the book edited by Megan Hutching (2005).

At the 28 (Maori) Battalion reunion, Easter weekend, 2006, at Omapere, Holianga, Maiki was able to provide valuable information on the photo collection of 'Charlie YM' (Charles Bennet), the YMCA worker with the Battalion. Maiki was not well at the time of this reunion having just come out of hospital, though he was determined to attend at Omapere.

The death of Maiki occurred at Opotiki on 10 December 2006. His funeral service was at St Stephens Church (the Carl Volkner Church). Before the funeral his casket was taken to his home, to the Marae, and to the land he owned.'

Bronze plaque on the grave of Maiki reads: J.V. Parkinson, 67603 2nd NZEF Pte, 28 Maori Btn, died 10.12.2006 aged 84 years.

Headstone intials J.V. for Jules Verne Parkinson. Death certificate name Jules Verne Parkinson. Enlisted as Jerry. He was known by many names including Jeromi, Jerry, Maiki and Mike but very few called him Jules Verne (family May 2010) AWMM