Name
Reginald James Pickett
7 June 1898
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
19/07/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
R/17658
King's Royal Rifle Corps
17th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ST. VAAST POST MILITARY CEMETERY, RICHEBOURG-L'AVOUE
III. B. 13.
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Baldock memorials, Pattingham War Memorial, St Chad's Church, Pattingham, Staffordshire
Pre War
Reginald James Pickett was born on 7 June 1898 in Steeple Aston, Oxfordshire, the son and only child of James and Eliza Ann Pickett (nee Minnis), and baptised on 19 July 1898 in Steeple Aston. His sister Eva Mary was born in 1901 but died the same year.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at Steeple Aston, where his father was working as a gardener domestic. By 1911 they had moved to Elmsdale Cottages, Wightwick, Wolverhampton.
His mother gave her address as Yew Tree House, Pattingham, Wolverhampton on pension records and his parents later lived at 48 Icknield Way, Baldock, Herts,
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Wolverhampton and joined the Kings Royal Rifle Corps, serving with the 17th Battalion in France.
The battalion war diary records: 19 July: a small raid by the 17th Sherwood Foresters took place on our front but was unsuccessful. The enemy were very active with MG fire during the night. Casualties: one OR killed. It is possible that Reginald Pickett was the OR (other ranks) killed in action on 19 July 1916. He is buried in St Vaast Post Military Cemetery, Richebourg-L'Avoue, France.
Additional Information
His father received a war gratuity of £3 and pay owing of £2 11s 7d. His mother received a pension of 4s 6d a week, increased in 1918 to 5 shillings a week.
Reginald is also commemorated on a family grave in St Marys' Cemetery, Baldock. His inscription reads:
". . . ALSO OF REGINALD JAMES PICKETT (ONLY SON) KILLED IN FRANCE JULY 19TH 1916 AGED 23(?)" [aged 18]
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.greglewin.co.uk/brewood/pattingham
