PICKERING, Frederick Samuel

Frederick Pickering was born in Handsworth and was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Pickering of Wellhead Lane, Perry Barr, Birmingham. He was married and his wife, Mrs Effie Mary Pickering lived later at 12, Pool Furlong, Holy Cross, Clent, near Stourbridge. He had worked as a school master at St. Mark's School, Birmingham. He enlisted and was sent to the Army Pay Corps and then transferred to the 2nd Battalion of the Wiltshires. After the breaking of the Hindenburg Line at the end of September 1918 the Wiltshires in the 19th Division followed up the German retreat. At no time was German resistance broken and British casualties were many. The enemy decided to make a stand on the River Selle and only a determined effort by sappers to bridge the river during the night before the 24th October attack enabled the infantry to cross. Advance towards Mons continued but Private Frederick Pickering was badly injured on the way and taken to a Casualty Clearing Station near Cambrai. He died on the 12th November, the day after the armistice, and is buried in Awoingt British Cemetery (III B 34). He was 34 years of age and is commemorated on the Lye and Wollescote and Lye church Memorials.