Charles Honori Parks was the son of John Bertram Parks (10/90) and Elsie Maude Parks (nee Haslock).

He married Mary Rose Ward in London, England; she also served in WW2 with a Signals unit. They had three sons and three daughters.

Sergeant Parks served with the Grenadier Guards and later in the New Zealand Army.

His address at date of death was 8 Kanawa Street, Waikanae, Wellington.

Lieutenant C. H. Parks, MM; Lower Hutt; born Wales, 6 Mar 1919; Regular soldier (Grenadier Guards); wounded 15 Jul 1942. (Source: Murphy, W.E. 2nd NZ Divisional Artillery. p.345.)

'When the enemy counter-attacked in the late afternoon the portée were highly vulnerable. One of B Troop and another of D Troop were set on fire and a second one of B Troop was immobilised. Another B Troop portée trying to take the damaged one in tow also went up in flames. In the end an infantry portée took over and towed the damaged B Troop portée out—the sole survivor of the troop. The remaining three guns of D Troop and all four of C Troop, however, got out safely, though not without trouble. Sergeant Parks backed C1 up a rise when he heard the attack coming. He could see vehicles burning and infantry surrendering, but at first no enemy. Then he saw tanks at 300 yards and halted two of them. He had a third tank in his gunsight when a party of New Zealanders moved between gun and tank. He could see the tank gun trained on his gun and his situation was tense in the extreme. Neither fired until the last man crossed the line of fire. Then both fired at once. The tank shell struck just below the gun-shield and wounded all but the driver; the tank burst into flames. The portée driver started up and drove off. Parks, who was badly wounded, was awarded an MM for his work this day.' (Source: Murphy, W.E. 2nd NZ Divisional Artillery. pp. 345.) AWMM