Alfred John Pickering (1891-1917)
Ferryhill miner served with DLI commemorated on Arras Memorial
John Hayward Pickering and Louisa Hill married at Houghton le Spring in 1875 when Louisa was only 16 years old. They went on to have seven children, including Alfred, unfortunately two also died in infancy. The Pickering family, which originated from Derbyshire, were from a long line of coal miners going back to his grandfather, uncles, father and brother and, of course, including Alfred.
The 1901 census shows the family living together at Hall Lane, West Rainton. Alfred’s widowed grandmother, Mary, was living with the family at this date. Also living there was a servant named, Mary, so they must have able to afford having her there.
Alfred enlisted into the army at Ferry Hill and was originally posted to 1/5th Bn. Durham Light Infantry. He was later transferred to 1/6th Battalion. During a battle at Arras, Alfred went missing and was subsequently presumed dead. He went missing on 23 April 1917, St. George’s Day.
BIRTH DATE
1891
DEATH DATE
23-April-1917
RESIDENCE
Russell Street Brandon 1891
Hall Lane West Rainton 1901
4 Bertha Street Broom Ferry Hill 1911
EMPLOYMENT
Coal Miner
PARENTS & SIBLINGS
Father
John Hayward Pickering (1853) coal miner
Mother
Louisa nee Hill (1859-1915)
Siblings
Robert William (1878) coal miner
Walter (1879)
Annie (1882
Eliza Harriett (1889)
John (1891)
Census returns
MILITARY SERVICE
Service No. 270150
1/6th Battalion Durham Light Infantry
Previously Service no. 4164
1/5th Bn. Durham Light Infantry
MEDALS
British War Medal
Victory Medal
MEMORIALS
Arras Memorial Bay 8
Book of Remembrance Durham Light Infantry Cathedral
Statue 1914-18 1939-45 Garden Ferry Hill
Death presumed 23-April 1917 during fighting at Arras
RESEARCH TIME TAKEN
3 hours
Civil Parish: Ferryhill
Birth date: 1891
Death date: 23-Apr-1917
Armed force/civilian: Army
Residence: Russell Street, Brandon (1891 census)
Hall Lane, West Rainton (1901 census)
4 Bertha Street, Broom, Ferry Hill (1911 census)
Employment: Coal Miner
Family: Father: John Hayward Pickering (1853) coal miner
Mother: Louisa nee Hill (1859-1915)
Siblings: Robert William (1878) coal miner, Walter (1879), Annie (1882), Eliza Harriett (1889), John (1891)
Military service:
Service No. 270150
1/6th Battalion Durham Light Infantry
Service number 4164
1/5th Battalion Durham Light Infantry
Memorial(s): Arras Memorial, France
Ferryhill War Memorial, statue, North Street/Chapel Terrace, Ferryhill
Durham Light Infantry Book of Remembrance, Durham Cathedral
Gender: Male
Contributed by Brenda McMahon, Gateshead
