Thomas Pidcock
1889 - labourer
1891 - soldier, 17th Leicestershire Regiment
1901/1911 - fishmonger
1914 - town carter
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Thomas Pidcock was born in Sneinton, Nottingham, in 1872 (registration district Radford).
No trace has yet been found of him on the 1881 Census, nor of the names of his parents. However, information given at the inquest into his death in 1915 included the death of his mother shortly before his own.
He joined the Militia in 1889, giving his address as 10 St Ann's Street, Nottingham, occupation labourer. Thomas then joined the Leicestershire Regiment and was in barracks in Leicester in 1891. He was later discharged by purchase.
Thomas married Annie Millicent Eayres (b. Leicester 20 December 1868) on 18 April 1894 at Nottingham Register office. Their son, Tom Francis, was born on 17 November 1906.
In 1901 Thomas, a fishmonger, and his wife, Annie, a grocer/shopkeeper (own account/home), were living at 353 (alt. 353a) St Ann's Well Road, Nottingham. Also in the household was a boarder, William Ringrose (63), a widower, who was a domestic gardener.
The couple were at the same address in 1911 and following the same occupations as in 1901. Also in the home were their son Tom (5) and William Ringrose who had now retired from work.
When Annie completed a form for the Army on 10 July 1919 listing her husband's blood relatives she named only herself and Tom, both of 11 Bartholomew Road, Nottingham. She and Tom, an electrical apprentice, together with a boarder, Iris Coe, a shop assistant, were still living at the same address in 1921; Annie gave her occupation as housekeeper. She was living alone at 11 Bartholomew Road in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled, and this was still her home when she died on 10 October 1944. (Probate awarded to her son, a motor engineer.)
Tom married Evelyn Ashworth in 1931 and they had three children, David H. birth registered 1933 JFM, Gordon Francis b. 1934 and Avril b. 1944.
Thomas Pidcock enlisted in the Militia (3985 Private, Derbyshire Regiment) on 16 July 1889 at the age of 17y 1m, single, occupation labourer. He was present for training in 1890 but then joined the Leicestershire Regiment and in 1891 was stationed with the 17th Battalion at HM Barracks, Saffron Lane, Glen Parva, Blaby, Leicestershire. Thomas obtained his discharge by purchase.
At the age of 42 he attested on 5 November 1914 in the Army Reserve (Special Reservists) on a one year engagement and served with the 3rd Battalion Sherwood Foresters (7799 Private).
He took his own life at South Shields on 7 July 1915 and was buried in Nottingham General Cemetery with full military honours on 12 July (grave ref. 19738).
His Army service record survives and includes the death certificate which stated he died on 7 July 1915 in a plantation near West Hall, South Shields. Death was due to strangulation and an inquest was held on 10 July in South Shields. Statements were given by several witnesses including Sgt Major John Tarpey, for whom Pidock had worked as a musketry storeman, and two soldiers, one of whom was the friend who had searched for Pidcock and had found his body. The jury was told that Private Pidcock had been rejected for service abroad and that two weeks prior to his death he had attended his mother's funeral in Nottingham. The verdict of the Coroner's jury was that ‘on the 7th day of July the said Thomas Pidcock committed suicide by strangling himself with a cord in a Plantation near West Hall Whitburn whilst temporarily insane.’ The decision was certified by the Deputy Coroner Reginald Shepherd, 10 July 1915.
Nottingham Daily Express, 13 July 1915:
'With Military Honours. Funeral of Sherwood Forester in Nottingham.
'The remains of Private Tom Pidcock, of the 3rd Battalion Sherwood Foresters were laid to rest in the Nottingham General Cemetery yesterday [12th July 1915] with full military honours. The deceased soldier, whose home was at 353, St. Ann's Well-road, formerly served in the 17th Leicestershire Regiment, and at the outbreak of war re-enlisted, choosing the 3rd Battalion Sherwood Foresters. He was sent to Sunderland, where he died in hospital on Wednesday. [7th July 1915] His body was brought to Nottingham on Saturday. [10th July 1915]
'A platoon of the Bantam Battalion, accompanied by a firing party of the Robin Hoods depot unit, assembled at the deceased's home and followed the cortege to the cemetery, where they were joined by the Robin Hoods' drum and fife band and bugle party. After the interment the usual three volleys were fired over the grave and the 'Last Post' was sounded. Amongst the officers at the graveside was Captain McGuire, chief of the Nottingham Recruiting Staff, through whom the dead soldier was enlisted. Several beautiful floral tributes were sent by various military units, including one from 'Old Comrades.'
Above courtesy Jim Grundy facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918.
A newspaper report (newspaper title/date not recorded on press cutting) of Pidcock's funeral is among the papers in his Army service record. The report stated that Private F-sic Pidcock, a Nottingham soldier, 'succumbed to wounds received while fighting with the Sherwood Foresters ...' This resulted in an enquiry from the OIC Infantry Records No. 6 District, Lichfield, to the CO 3rd Battalion Sherwood Foresters, in June 1915 requesting a copy of the report of the [Battalion] Court of Enquiry and any copies of newspaper reports of the proceedings at the inquest. The CO replied in detail, enclosing proceedings of the inquest, and concluding his letter, 'The wife of deceased was wired for and on her arrival said she was desirous of taking the body home which she did at her own expense, and that is how the error got got inserted in the Nottinghamshire Guardian about the deceased having succumbed to wounds received while fighting with the Sherwood Foresters, which is not correct as the deceased had not served with the Expeditionary Force. No report of the inquest was in any local paper.’
Death registration index incorrectly cites his age as 45 on his death (birth registered 1872 OND).
Probate: Nottingham, 30 December 1919. Administration awarded to his widow, Ann Maria Pidcock. Effects £80.
A letter dated 3 September 1915 from the War Office to the OIC Infantry Records, Lichfield, stated that, 'in view of the circumstances of the death of No. 7799 Private J Pidcock Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment, his widow is not eligible for a pension from Army Funds.’ The decision must have been contested as the Assistant Financial Secretary, War Office, wrote to the OIC Infantry Records on 16 November 1916 confirming that the widow of 7799 Private J Picock Notts & Derby Regiment, ‘may be regarded as eligible, under the usual conditions, for the grant of a pension from Army Funds. Army Form B. 104-76 should, therefore, be issued to Mrs J Pidcock 353a St Ann’s Well Road Nottingham.’ The pension record shows that Annie Pidcock was awarded a pension of 20 shillings a week commencing 7 February 1916.
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 12 Oct 1944: ‘Pidcock. On October 10th, at her residence, Annie, beloved mother of Tom, grandma of David, Gordon and Avril. Funeral Friday, 2pm Wilford Hill. No flowers or mourning.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Research Peter Gillings. Additional information/record updated (RF, Nov. 2025)
Photo of Thomas Pidcock
CWGC Cross of Sacrifice, Nottingham General Cemetery