PARHAM, Maj.Gen. Hetman Jack

1896 - 1974

Hetman Jack Parham was born at Alvediston, Norrington, Wiltshire on 27 July 1895, only child of Bernard Norrington Parham (4 February 1868-21 June 1956), a farmer, and his wife Mabel Alice Leachman (21 June 1867-23 April 1943), eldest daughter of Dr Albert Warren Leachman, M.D. (1838-1914), who married at Petersfield Parish Church, Hampshire on 24 September 1894. Hetman was educated at Sherborne School and in 1911, a 15-year-old scholar, living at Norrington with his parents, 43-year-old Bernard and 43-year-old Mabel. He entered the Royal Military Academy and in November 1914, commissioned into the Royal Artillery and, after a year on the Western front, he was posted to Salonika where he remained for the rest of the war, being mentioned in dispatches, and awarded the French Croix de Guerre. Between the wars he served on regimental duty in UK and India and in 1934 he purchased an Autogiro and learnt to fly. An early member of the Royal Artillery Flying Club, recognising the need for artillery light observation aircraft with communications to the guns. An innovator in the field of air observation for gunnery and in January 1940, took command of 10th Field Regiment in France and, under his command, this regiment trained to fight as a regiment and, unlike most, properly practised its communications. During the campaign that followed his regiment engaged in what is certainly the first successful multi-battery engagement of an opportunity target, a German tank unit refuelling in a wood. A keen amateur pilot, and authored books on aircraft, the theory of flight and memoirs of flying. Parham was also an artist of considerable skill, and recorded some of his experiences during battle, as well as scenes of Britain and elsewhere. Promoted to major-general and given command of 3 AA Group in UK until he retired in 1949. A member of the Ipswich Art Club 1953-1954 and was Master of Sproughton Foot Beagles 1961-1962. He married at Witchampton, Dorset on 3 July 1926, Barbara Baker (3 December 1901-12 December 1995) and had issue. Hetman Jack Parham died at Hyntle Place, Hintlesham, Ipswich on 29 December 1974.

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Works by This Artist