Private John Isiah Pickard
| Date of Birth | c. 1895 |
|---|---|
| Age at Death | 20 |
| Date of Death | 15 September 1916 |
| Service Number | 10813 |
| Military Service | 12th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment |
| Merton Address | 17 Norfolk road, Colliers Wood |
| Local Memorial | Mitcham War Memorial |
Additional Information
John was born in Battersea in 1895, but was baptised the following year in Bampton, Oxfordshire, where his mother Mary was born. His father Harry Edwin Pickard was an Electrical Draughtsman, and in 1901 the family were living in Wimbledon at 131 Clarence Road. John was aged 5, and he had a 1-year-old brother named Richard.
By 1911 the family had moved to 17 Norfolk Road, Colliers Wood. Harry was recorded as being an Army Pensioner, and a Draughtsman for a Sanitary Pottery Manufacturer. John was now aged 15 and working as a Telephone Clerk for an Art Decorators Company. In addition to Frederick now aged 11, he had a new 1 year old sister Clara.
Before the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914, John had enlisted in Kingston with the East Surrey Regiment on 12 February 1914. His physical appearance was recorded as: Height 5.9 ½, Weight: 134 lbs, Eyes: Grey, Hair; Brown. It is also recorded that he had a slight defect and that he was unable to extend his right knee joint to its full extent. However, this was not enough to prevent him from serving.
John initially served with the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, which was a home defence and training and draft finding unit, and he didn’t transfer to the 12th Battalion until 31 May 1916.
Early on during 1914 and 1915, his Conduct Sheet records several misdemeanours. These included “breaking out of barracks at night and not returning until morning” and “absenting himself from tattoo/rifle inspection”. For these discretions he had to forfeit his pay for up to 8 days and was confined to barracks for up to 10 days.
In May 1916, John’s unit, the 12th (Service) Battalion (Bermondsey) landed at Le Havre as part of the 122nd Brigade in the 41st Division for service on the Western Front. His battalion saw action in the Battle of the Somme, (1 July – 18 November 1916) and particularly the Battle of Flers-Courcelette which started on 15 September. Unfortunately, John was reported as “missing, presumed dead” on the first day of that battle. According to the battalion’s War Diary, they took up their position NW of Delville Wood and advanced at 6.15am. They took the enemy’s 1st and 2nd line trenches but suffered heavy casualties. Of the 17 officers and 634 other ranks, nearly all the officers and 286 other ranks were killed. Sadly, John was one of the fallen.
His mother Mary received his last pay of £5.2.10 plus the War Gratuity of £12.00. As John has no known grave, he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France and locally on the Mitcham War Memorial.