WHEN Albert Parker laid a wreath at Bicester’s war memorial on Sunday he said a short prayer for the four step-uncles he never got to meet.

Pensioner Mr Parker’s family paid the ultimate sacrifice in the First World War – they lost four brothers.

His grandmother Kezia Hirons, who later married Albert’s grandfather Felix John Parker, saw five sons volunteer to fight between 1914 and 1918.

They were Maurice, Frank, Joseph, Arthur and William – only William returned home to Bicester.

Now, more than 90 years later, Albert Parker is urging people to buy poppies to remember the human sacrifice.

Mr Parker, of Woodfield Road, Bicester, who has been selling poppies for the past three years, said: “It was a terrible thing to think one lady lost four sons.

“When you think of the sacrifice they made with their lives so we had the life we’ve got today. – that’s why I was glad to do anything to help the appeal.”

Mr Parker, whose father and three brothers also served in the Armed Forces, still has memorabilia that belonged to his uncles, including postcards, medals, photographs and letters.

Maurice Hirons joined the 2nd Battalion Oxon and Bucks Light Infantry, and left Bicester to fight in Belgium.

He was killed on November 7, 1914, aged 21. His name is on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres.

Frank Hirons, a bugler in the 3rd Rifle Brigade, died of wounds sustained on August 18, 1915. He was buried in Lijssenthoek Cemetery, near Ypres.

Frank was the only brother to marry, meeting Catherine Nugent while stationed in Tipperary, Ireland. The couple’s first child, Arthur, was born the same year Frank was killed.

Joseph Hirons was aged 17 when he volunteered for the Oxon and Bucks Light Infantry. He was badly injured in February 1916 and later died.

His platoon commander, Second Lieutenant Bure, wrote to his mother saying: “[Your son] was always cheerful and willing to do any extra or disagreeable job that had to be done and was a real good soldier. His loss is a great blow to myself and the platoon and the other men from Bicester.”

Arthur Hirons was part of the forward zone 61st Division Oxon and Bucks Light Infantry that was quickly overwhelmed and virtually lost on March 21, 1918.

He died from battle wounds aged 29.

Arthur has no known grave, but is remembered on the memorial at Pozieres in the Somme.

William was the only brother to survive the war. He was a driver with the Royal Engineers and worked with horses during the war years. He died aged 84.

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