| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
John Peacock Pickard was born in Barton on Humber in Feb 1896, the son of Benjamin and Mabel Agnes Pickard nee Ward. he was raised by his maternal grandparents George and Sarah Ward. His grandfather had been a Superintendent in the Lincolnshire Constabulary, and in 1901 was living in Barton on Humber. In 1911 aged 15 John was living at 38 Wood Lane, Beverley.
John served with the Trench Mortar Battery of the RFA, he embarked for France on 1 Jun 1915, and that he was mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig’s Despatches dated 9 Apr 1917, as being “deserving of special mention”. At that time he was acting Corporal, but subsequently attained the rank of Sergeant. His photograph was published in the Beverley Guardian in Jun 1917, with the notation: “He was also mentioned earlier in the war for gallantry in the field”. John survived the war and was awarded the British War and Victory medals and the 15 Star.
In Jul 1920 during the Irish War of Independence, the Auxiliary Division of the Royal Irish Constabulary was set up, made up of former British Army personnel; its role was to conduct counter-insurgency operations against the IRA. John served with the Auxiliaries until the RIC and the Auxiliaries were disbanded in early 1922.
In 1918 he had married Louisa Cecelia Reece, in Woolwich, Kent. Louisa was one of the six daughters of George and Louisa Reece of Wimbledon, Surrey. John and Louisa had at least two children, John Edward born 1919 and Robert born 1930. In the 1939 Register, John and Louisa were living in Prestongate, Hessle and John’s occupation was given as ‘Saleroom Assistant’; he was also a Special Constable (ER). Their son, John Edward, was killed in 1940 at the age of 20 while serving with the 1st East Riding Yeomanry, Royal Armoured Corps in World War II. Louisa died in Dec 1971, and John died in 1972, aged 76.
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |