B126697 Rifleman Gordon Walter Parson was born in Toronto, Ontario, on 27 April 1923, the son of Samuel James Parson and Clara Jemmett.  He was educated at King George Public School and Runnymede Collegiate but left at age 15 after 3 years of high school. He had one brother, Norman James.

He married Josephine Annie on 7 November 1942.

Parson worked as a baker for the George Weston Bakery when he enlisted for his compulsory service on 26 November 1942. After initial training in Toronto and Simcoe, he was posted to the Queen’s York Rangers on 3 February 1943 and continued training in Debert, Nova Scotia. On 16 October, he was transferred to the Pictou Highlanders. On 21 February 1944, he re-enlisted in the Active Service Army.

Parson went overseas in July 1944, arrived in France mid-August, and was posted to The Queen’s Own Rifles on 23 August 1944. He was wounded in the right buttocks on 17 September 1944, but after recovering rejoined the Regiment in November and served in France, Holland and Germany.

Rifleman Parson was killed in the late hours of 25 April 1945, and is buried in the Holten Canadian War Cemetary, grave reference XII. E. 4.

His family provided the following epitaph for his grave marker:

FAITHFUL HUSBAND
ONE OF THE BEST
MAY GOD GRANT HIM
ETERNAL REST