William Edward Pykett
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
William Edward was the son of Edward and Elizabeth Pykett (née Marshall). His father was born in Barnby in the Willows and his mother in Newark. They were married at Newark St Mary Magdalene in June 1871 and had six children who were born in Newark: William Edward birth registered 1872 (J/F/M) bap. St Mary Magdalene 5 May 1872; Charlotte Mary birth registered 1874 (J/F/M), Annie b. 1879, John Charles birth registered 1884 (J/F/M), George Herbert birth registered 1886 (J/F/M) and Robert Henry (Harry) b. 1888. Edward and Elizabeth were registered at 10 Farndon Row, Newark, on both the 1891 and 1901 census. However, Elizabeth was admitted to Derby Lunatic Asylum and Isolation Hospital in May 1910 and in 1911 her hsuband Edward, a colliery housekeeper, and his sons George (25) a colliery shunter, and Harry (22) no occupation given, were living in Shuttlewood, nr. Chesterfield, Derbyshire. Harry died later that year (reg. Chesterfield). When William Edward's widow completed a form for the army in 1919 naming her husband's surviving relatives she was unable to give any information about his parents or siblings, 'unknown'. However, his mother, Elizabeth, died at Derby Asylum in 1928. The break with the family appeared to date back to at least 1900 as when William's brother John enlisted in the Militia in May that year he named his father Edward and brothers George and Harry, all of 10 Farndon Row, as his next of kin. He also gave the name of his elder brother William, but 'address unknown.' William Edward married Annie Elizabeth Smalley (also Smalley-White) at Newark St Leonard on 25 December 1893. They had had five children by 1911, one of whom had died in infancy or childhood, and subsequently two more children one of whom died in infancy: Lilian b. Newark 1894 bap. St Leonard 1894, Joseph William b. Grantham 1899 (reg. J/F/M) bap. Grantham St Wulfrum 1904, Mabel b. Newark 1902 bap. St Wulfrum 1904, Florence Alice b. Grantham 1904 bap. St Wulfrum 1904, Ivy Eunice b. Newark 1911 (reg. J/F/M 1912) and Cyril b. Lincoln 1915 d. 1916. In 1901 William, an iron moulder, and Annie were living at 5 New Street, Newark, with their two children Lilian and Joseph William. Also in the household was a boarder, Thomas Felstead, an iron labourer. By 1911 William and Annie had moved to 3 Queen Street, Newark, where they were living with three of their four surviving children: Joseph, Mabel and Florence. Also in the household was a boarder, Arthur William Sentance (30). The eldest daughter, Lilian, has not yet been traced on the 1911 Census. William and Annie's daughter Ivy was born in December that year and Cyril four years later in 1915; he died the following year. William enlisted in 1914; he and Annie were living at 5 Blundells Cottages, Waterside South, Lincoln. His widow was awarded a pension of 23 shillings for herself and the three youngest children, Mabel, Florence and Ivy, with effect from 19 June 1916. She was then living at 14 Coulthard Terrace, Canwell Road, Lincoln. Annie provided the following information to the army in 1919 when requested for details of William's surviving blood relatives: Annie and her children Joseph, Mabel, Ivy and Florence of 7 Blundells Court, Waterside South, Lincoln, and Lilian (surname illegible) of Alexandria Road, Aldershot. Lilian served in the WAAC during the war and had married Reginald George Viney, Petty Officer RNR, of Portsea, Hampshire, at Christ Church, Crookham, Surrey, in March 1918. At the time of her marriage, Lilian was still serving in the WAAC and living in Church Crookham. Annie may have had another child, Edwin Pykett, in 1918 (reg. J/F/M Lincoln, mother's maiden name White-Smalley). He was recorded on the 1939 England & Wales Register as a boarder in Stourbridge, Worcestershire, where he wa a fish salesman. In 1939 Annie was living in Lincoln with her unmarried daughter Ivy. Also in the household was Arthur Sentance (b. 1879) an unemployed malster and John Bootham (17) a fishmonger's shop assistant. The record of one other member of the household remains closed. Annie died in 1953. Two of William's brothers, John Charles and George Herbert, also served in the war; both in the Coldstream Guards. George was killed in action in 1918. (See 'Extra information').
8th Bn Lincolnshire Regiment William Edward Pykett enlisted at Lincoln on 5 September 1914. He was 34 yrs and 188 days old and living at 5 Blundells Cottages, Waterside, Lincoln. His wife Annie, of the same address, was named as his next of kin. He was posted to the Lincolnshire Regiment and embarked at Folkestone for the BEF France on 10 September 1915. William was killed in action three months later on 8 December 1915 and is buried at Chapelle-D'Armentieres New Military Cemetery, Nord, France (grave ref. D.7). He had served for 1 year 59 days. He qualified for the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of Chapelle-D'Armentieres New Military Cemetery (extract): 'La Chapelle-d'Armentieres is a village 1.5 kilometres to the west of Armentieres ... The village of La Chapelle-d'Armentieres was in British hands from October 1914 until the fall of Armentieres on the 10th April 1918, and it was retaken in the following October. During the British occupation it was very close to the front line, and the cemeteries which it contains are those made by fighting units and Field Ambulances in the earlier days of trench warfare. Chapelle-d'Armentieres New Military Cemetery was begun in October 1915, when the Old Cemetery was closed, and it was used for three months. One grave in Row C was brought in from Roubaix Communal Cemetery in 1927.' (www.cwgc.org)
Two of William's brothers, John Charles and George Herbert also served in the war. John Charles enlisted in the Militia on 7 May 1900 aged 18 years 10 months. He was a labourer and living with his parents at 10 Farndon Row, Newark. He joined the Lincolnshire Regiment and transferred to embodied service on 14 June 1900 until 1 January 1901 (211 days). He then attested in the 3rd Bn Coldstream Guards on 24 January 1901 before transferring to the Army Reserve, and then discharged on 23 January 1913. Home 24 January 1902-15 January 1902. South Africa 16 January 1902-23 January 1913. Total 12 years. He was awarded the South African medal 1902 clasp Cape Colony. However, John re-enlisted (Section D) on 28 January 1913 for a further four years (Reserve). He served overseas in the war (4030 Lance Sergeant Coldstream Guards) and was discharged on 13 December 1918 under Para 392 (xvi) King's Regulations (physically unfit for further war service) having suffered a gunshot wound to the left arm and shoulder. He was awarded Silver Badge No. B60947. George Herbert enlisted in Chesterfield on 22 May 1917 aged 31 years 3 months. He was married to Ellen (Fisher, m. 1913) and had a son George Edward in 1918. He joined the 3rd Bn Coldstream Guards (22730 Private) and served with the BEF from 23 October 1917. George was killed in action on 13 April 1918. There is a record that there was an enquiry for information made to the Red Cross & Order of St John in November 1918, indicating that George had been initially reported missing in action and that the date of his death was not confirmed for many months. George has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial. The CWGC record gave his widow's address as Shuttlewood Road, Shuttlewood, Chesterfield. a.k.a. ""PYETT"". CWGC: 'Son of Edward and Elizabeth Pykett; husband of Annie Elizabeth Pykett, of 7, Blundell's Court, Waterside South, Lincoln.' William's possessions were returned to his widow at 5 Couldham Terrace, Canwick Road, Lincoln, in 1916. The property included: disc, purse, 8 photos, 1 postcard, 1 coin (farthing), 1 book (a letter on the crucifiction), 1 purse.
