Sergeant Leslie Arthur George "Les" Parnell
09 Oct 1915 - 01 Jan 2002
Biography
Les Parnell was one of the original Radio Amateurs that helped set up the Special Duties wireless network. Wireless amateur callsign G8PP.
Initially at Bachelors Hall, he was in charge of 4 other men who were sent to Scotland to set up the Barnack network. They were based in turn at Markinch, Arbroath, Broughty Ferry, Edinburgh, Dunbar and Berwick-on-Tweed. On finishing this he was sent to Salisbury.
In later life Signalman Bill Bartholomew remembered Les living in a flat where he could not transmit from as it set of the alarms. "He has to go out mobile to transmit".
Postings
| Unit or location | Role | Posted from | until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Signals Support | Royal Signals Support | Unknown | 08 Sep 1944 |
| Edinburgh Golf Course Instation | Area Signals Section | 01 May 1942 | 01 Feb 1943 |
| Salisbury Instation | Area Signals Section | 01 Feb 1943 | 1944 |
| Bachelor's Hall Instation | Royal Signals Support | 1941 | 01 May 1942 |
Regiment
The Royal Signals
Commissioned or Enlisted
Before June 1940
Address
96 Brown Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire (May 1943)
Other information
Born to George and Beatrice (nee Wakefield) in Romford the family lived in Kings Lyn. He married Ethel Hill in 1939.
References