John Thomas Pickard
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
John Thomas was born in 1885 in Hucknall and was the son of John (snr) a coal miner and his first wife Emily Sollory. His father John (snr) was born in 1835 in Shepshed, Leicestershire and his mother Emily Sollory was born 1859 in Nottingham, they were married in 1879 in Nottingham and also had a son Alfred b1882 Hucknall . It would appear his mother and father separated , his mother went on to re marry and died in 1948 in Oadby, Leicestershire. John Pickard (snr) married his second wife Sarah Spencer b1851 Nottingham in 1893 in Nottingham, they went on to have a further son Joseph Henry b1895 at Hucknall. His father John (snr) died in 1901 in Nottingham aged 66 yrs. In the 1911 census the family are residing at 2A Albert Street, Hucknall and are shown as Sarah 60 yrs a widow , she is living with her sons Alfred 29 yrs a coal miner, John Thomas 26 yrs a colliery clerk and Joseph Henry 16 yrs a lamp cleaner. John Thomas's probate was proven on 6th June 1917 in Nottingham and shows him as John Thomas Pickard 7a Carlingford Road, Hucknall, Private in HM Army died 13th August 1916 in France, his effects were left to Sarah Pickard, widow.
Private John Thomas Pickard, served with “D” Company, 12th (Pioneer) Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment. He landed in France on 24th September 1915 and he was killed in action on 13th August 1916. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.
Article published on 7th September 1916 in the Hucknall Dispatch :- “The first of the above heroes to make the great sacrifice is John Thomas Pickard, who would have been 32 years old next October. It was on January 4th, 1915, when he enlisted in the Notts. and Derby Regiment. After receiving his training at Lichfield he went to the Front 11 months ago. Whilst in France he wrote the most cheerful letters, notwithstanding that on many occasions he was within the danger zone; in fact, on one occasion two pals by his side were blown to pieces. However, he was free from any scratches himself, and kept well until last month, when he was killed in action. A chum report that he buried the deceased soldier, who resided with his mother at 7a Carlingford road, Hucknall.” Above is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
