Arras Memorial
Photo: Dorothy Hall
In Duncombe Cemetery Ferryhill is a family headstone which reads:-
In loving memory of
Louisa beloved wife of
John Pickering
died May 5th 1915 aged 56 years
Also Clara beloved wife of the above
John Pickering
died May 18th 1934 aged 75 years
also Alfred beloved son of the above
killed in France
April 23rd 1917 aged 25 years
Also Robert beloved son of above
died Oct. 27th 1929 aged ?5 years
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Alfred John Pickering born 1891 in Brandon was the youngest child and son of John Pickering native of Dudley, Worcestershire born 1853 and his wife Louisa Hill born in Lincolnshire 1859. John’s parents and sibling migrated north and in 1871 could be found living in New Stanley, Tanfield. All the males including John, now 18 years old, worked as coal miners. John and Louisa were married August 12th 1875 in Houghton le Spring and had 7 children, two of whom died in infancy, leaving 3 boys and 2 girls. By 1911 Alfred John and his family were living at 4 Bertha Street, Broom, Ferryhill, his father and the three boys all worked at the local colliery as hewers underground.
Alfred John Pickering enlisted in Ferryhill as Private 4164 assigned to the 1/5th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, later transferring to the 1/9th Battalion and finally in 1917 was given the number of 270150 and transferred to the 1/6th Battalion D.L.I. attached to the 50th Northumbrian Division. April 4th-June 16th 1917 Britain and her allies attacked the German defences near the French city of Arras. The 50th Division participated in the Battles of Arras seeing action April 9th-14th at the 1st Battle of Scarpe and nine days later April 23rd-24th 1917 at the 2nd Battle of Scarpe. It was during this second battle that Private 270150 Alfred John Pickering was killed in action April 23rd 1917. Alfred John has no known grave, his sacrifice is recorded D. L. I. Bay B of the Arras Memorial to the Missing, near Arras in France, it commemorates the 34,795 servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand who died spring 1916 to August 7th 1918. Alfred John, 26 years of age, was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal, he was single and had nominated his father as sole beneficiary to receive all monies owed to him. His death in 1917 came two years after that of his mother Louisa in 1915.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Alfred John Pickering is remembered at Chilton on C107.01, C107.04 and C107.12 and at Ferryhill F38.02
