In civil life Herbert was employed as a sanitary inspector by the Cheltenham Highways Department. He enlisted in Chelsea, London, in December 1914 and was trained by the 2nd London (City of London) Sanitary Company (TF). He entered the war in Egypt on 4th March 1915. He was wounded by shellfire in the Helles sector. The 16th Sanitary Section’s war diary noted: “Acting L/Cpl Parker 2203 (HT) admitted to hospital 17 [17 Stationary Hospital] with multiple shell wounds. Died later.” Herbert was the son of Thomas Cole Parker and Ellen Parker of The Great Western Hotel, Clarence St, Cheltenham.