Maj.-Gen. G.B. ("Ike") Parkinson, C.B.E., D.S.O. & Bar , born in Wellington and educated at Wellington College, entered the Royal Military College at Duntroon, Australia, in 1914. He was posted to the Royal New Zealand Artillery and served in France and Belgium in 1917-18. His post between the wars included that of Officer Commanding RNZA, Central Command, Wellington 1931-32 and Commander RNZA at Army Headquarters 1937 39. He was Commanding Officer 4th Field Regiment, RNZA at the beginning of WW2 and later (1944) was temporarily Commander of the 2nd New Zealand Division and the New Zealand Divisional Artillery.

Son of Ethel Constance Parkinson and Henry Ainslie Parkinson.

Husband of Barbara Waiohine nee Howe.

Joined 1 NZ Expeditionary Force (#50614), 12 June 1917.

Served as Adjutant as Temporary Captain of 1 Brigade, NZ Field Artillery. Discharged 1919.

Commanding Officer (CO) of 4 Field Regiment, January 1940 - August 1941.

CO of 1 Army Tank Brigade in NZ, August 1941-42.

CO of 7 NZ Infantry Brigade in NZ, 1942.

CO of 6 Infantry Brigade in Italy, April 1943 - June 1944; August 1944 - June 1945.

Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 2 NZ Division, 3-27 March 1944.

Commander Royal Artillery (CRA) of 2 NZ Division, June - August 1944.

Quartermaster General (QMG) of Army HQ, January - September 1946.

Military Liaison Officer, London, UK, 1946-49.

Commandant of NZ Southern Military District (SMD), 1949-51. AWMM