Lawrence Pinkney
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Lawrence Pinkney was born in 1898 at Derby and was the son of the late Alfred a plasterers labourer and Hannah Pinkney née Ford of 2 Bedford Square Hyson Green Nottingham. His father Alfred was born in 1856 in Derby and his mother Hannah Ford was born in 1855 in derby, they were married in 1877 in Derby and went on to have 12 children, sadly 4 were to die in infancy or early childhood, their surviving children all born in Derby were, Elizabeth b1878, John b1884, Alfred b1886, Bridget b1888, Sabina Mary b1890, Joseph b1892, Jane b1896 and Lawrence b1898. In the 1901 census the family were living at 48 Walker Lane, Derby His father Alfred died on 10th January 1909 in Derby he was 56 yrs of age. In the 1911 census the family are living at 7 Oswald Terrace, Hyson Green Nottingham and are shown as Hannah 56 yrs a widow she is living with her children, John Richard 26 yrs a general labourer, Bridget 22 yrs a cotton winder, Sabina 20 yrs a cotton winder, Jane 15 yrs an errand girl and Lawrence 13 yrs a scholar.
On 23 February 1915, 15/23467 (15th Bantam Battalion Sherwood Foresters) Private Lawrence Pinkney was discharged from the army because he had mis-stated his age as 22 when he was actually 17. Lawrence was obviously keen to enlist and it is possible this was because his elder brother John had been discharged. He eventually did enlist and went overseas (France) after 1 January 1916. He served with the 17th battalion and then 9th battalion. It is probable that he moved to 9th battalion in February 1918 when the 17th battalion was disbanded. On 27 April 1918 the enemy shelled the area and burst nine gas cylinders resulting in 2/Lieut Harding and 30 other ranks becoming casualties of which 15 were fatalities. One of these men was Lawrence and he is buried in Philosphe British Cemetery, Mazingarbe, grave III. D. 10. Graves in Plot III, row D and 1 to 14 are all 9th battalion men killed on that day. Visited, wreath laid by John Morse
His brother John Pinkney enlisted on 8th September 1914 and was Private 15836 and served with the Sherwood Foresters but following a medical board was discharged 5th December 1914 owing to 'Hysteria Mental Deficiency' Two of his brothers also died during the Great War Private Joseph Pinkney, enlisted at Nottingham and served with the 2nd Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment. He landed in France on 4th November 1914 and died on 29th July 1915, at No 1 Canadian General Hospital of inflammation of connective tissue in head ( soldiers effects register ) aged 22. He is buried in Etaples Military Cemetery. Pte 71184 Alfred Pinkney enlisted at Derby and served with the 1st battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment he died of wounds on 5th August 1917 received on 31st July. He is buried in Etaples Military Cemetery grave reference XX.O.20 In memoriam published 28th April 1919 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “PINKNEY. – In loving memory of Pte. Lawrence Pinkney, killed in action April 27th, 1918, Sherwood Foresters. Never a morning dawns, or night returns, but what we think of thee. R.I.P. – From loving mother and family.” Above is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
