Colin Parsons learned his football at Perth Boys School. In 1914 and 1915 he was also secretary of the Austral club in Perth. He enlisted with the 28th Battalion on same day as his team mate Alexander Hadden.
On 5 November 1916 Corporal Parsons was reported missing in action in Fleurs, France. According to witness testament, after a failed attack on an enemy trench Parsons went back to fetch the stretcher bearers and did not return. On 28 July 1917 he was officially pronounced killed in action by a court of inquiry.
The same tragic fate befell his mate Hadden who was killed the previous year in the Battle of Pozieres on 29 July 1916.