Lieutenant-Colonel R.G.L. Parker
Canadian Scottish Regiment

Strength, courage, knowledge, these three things
Stand out upon our Athlone crest;
No better man can there be found
To teach us this with all his best

(Athlone school pupil tribute, Vancouver Sun, 14 Feb 1961, 31)

Born on 11 May 1898 in Stockton, Warwickshire, England, Richard Gilbert Lewes Parker was a rugby player, grammar schoolteacher in Duncan, British Columbia and commanding officer of the 2nd Battalion, Canadian Scottish since 1939. He had enlisted with the 48th Battalion in May 1915 and went to France in March 1916 and transferred to the 29th Battalion in May 1917. He was twice wounded in action and ended the war as a cadet with the Royal Air Force.

He resumed teaching and joined the Canadian Scottish Regiment in 1930. He served as commanding officer of the 2nd Battalion from July 1939 until June 1940 when he reverted to major and became second-in-command of the 1st Battalion. He succeeded Lieutenant-Colonel J.R. Kingham in April 1942 but needed to relinquish command in January 1943 before reaching the army age limit. Lieutenant-Colonel J.D. Macbeth of the Canadian Signals Corps succeeded him.

Parker returned home in May 1943 and commanded a training battalion in Debert Camp, Nova Scotia. By 1948, he worked as teacher and senior master at the Athlone School in Vancouver.

He died in Burnaby, British Columbia on 9 February 1961.