Canadian Company Sergeant Major Rededication Ceremony takes place at Regina Trench Cemetery, France

A rededication service for Company Sergeant-Major David George Parfitt was held at Regina Trench Cemetery, Grandcourt, France, in November 2023.

David was born on July 4, 1891, in London, England before emigrating to Canada at aged 18. He enlisted in September 1914 and was promoted to Sergeant upon enlistment. The 8th Canadian Infantry Battalion, with Sergeant Parfitt in its ranks, arrived in France in February 1915.

In September 1915, he was promoted to the rank of Company Sergeant Major.

David was killed in action on September 26, 1916, at the Battle of Thiepval Ridge as part of the Battle of the Somme. Company Sergeant-Major Parfitt lost his life leading a platoon from D Company of the 8th Infantry Battalion in the attack that day.

David emigrated to Canada aged 18, taking up work in a mill in Keewatin, Ontario, before enlisting in Valcartier. David’s three brothers (William, Arthur, and Frederick) also enlisted and all three survived the war. 

Although his body was later found and buried in Regina Trench British Military Cemetery, there was insufficient evidence of his identity for the grave to be named.

Following extensive archival research by the CWGC and the Directorate of History and Heritage to corroborate the findings of an independent researcher, the identification was confirmed in November 2019 by the Casualty Identification Review Board, which includes representatives from the Canadian Forces Forensic Odontology Response Team and the Canadian Museum of History.

The rededication service at Regina Trench Cemetery was attended by family members, Canadian Defence staff, Regimental representatives, CWGC staff and local dignitaries.

The CWGC has marked his grave with a newly engraved Commission headstone and will care for it in perpetuity.