John Edward PICKUP

20 November 1914

A RECRUITING SCOOP

A recruiting ‘scoop’ was made by the 6th Battalion West Riding Regiment when they persuaded a number of Barnoldswick men, who were connected with the St. John Ambulance Division, to join the ranks as a Bearer Company. Some of these men were viewed as prospective valuable additions to the complement of the Royal Naval Sick Berth Reserve, but the Army ‘got there’ first. The Bearer Company includes the following local men:– Sergt. P.H. Garnett, and Privates R.W.W. Collyer, J.W. Smith, George Harwood, George Harrison, F. Barker. J.E. Pickup, E. Schofield, W. Strickland, R. Harrison. E. Woodhead, S. Lee, F. Bracewell, J.H. Holden, J. Pickup. J.H. Whitley, and H. Thomas. Other men who have joined the Army this week are R. Metcalfe, W.J. Shuttleworth, and H. Blackburn.

20 October 1916

BARNOLDSWICK – ‘BARLICKS’ FIFTH D.C.M.

News is to hand that Private John Edward Pickup, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Pickup, Cherrydene, Barnoldswick, has been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. Private Pickup, who is 23 years of age, went out with the Duke of Wellington’s in April 1915 as a stretcher-bearer, and is the third Barnoldswick stretcher-bearer to earn that distinction, the others being Sergeant P.H. Garratt and Private Fred Bracewell. Two other Barlickers in the ‘Duke’s’ who were awarded the D.C.M. were Company-Sergeant-Major Green (since killed) and Sergeant James Bury.

In a letter acquainting his parents of the fact, Private Pickup says: “I have just been presented with the D.C.M. ribbon, and I shall be receiving the medal very likely before long.” Before joining the army he worked as a weaver at Messrs. Albert Hartley and Co., Long Ing.

13 April 1917

PICKUP – March 25th, in France, Pte. John Edward Pickup, D.C.M., of the West Riding Regiment, son of Mr. and Mrs. Pickup, of Cherry Dene, Barnoldswick, aged 24.

13 April 1917

BARNOLDSWICK D C.M. WINNER KILLED IN FRANCE

Mr. and Mrs. Pickup, Cherry Dene, Barnoldswick, yesterday received a letter from Captain Ogston, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, confirming the report of the death of their son, Private John Ed. Pickup, a stretcher-bearer in the same battalion, as having been killed in action on March 29th. The writer added:– “The reason for my not writing before was because he was missing for some little time, but was later found and buried in the English cemetery. I cannot speak too highly of him; he was one of the best stretcher-bearers in the battalion and an excellent soldier. It may be some consolation to you to know that he suffered no pain.”

The circumstances of Private Pickup’s death are more fully described in the following letter (dated April lst) from Sergt. J.H. Whiteley, another ‘Barlicker’ in the same battalion:– “As sergeant in charge of the stretcher-bearers I feel it is my duty to let you know about Johnny. We had a bombing raid into the German trenches in the early morning of the 29th, and nine of us stretcher-bearers had to go with them. Johnny and another ‘Barlicker’ went over with the first lot. He never came back, and I never saw him after he went over, but Jim Bury says he was close beside him when a shell came and killed him. I and some more stretcher-bearers searched all over but could not find the least trace of him, and parties have been out every night since, but without success. We cannot tell what has become of him. He may possibly be a prisoner, but I am afraid there is not much chance of that. We did our best to find him, and I am very sorry we did not succeed, so that we could have given him a decent burial if killed. He was a favourite in the battalion with both officers and men, and I feel certain he would have got something beside the D.C.M. if he had only pulled through. He had been with me at the Medical Aid Post for some time, and we were very good friends. I feel his loss keenly, but I know it will be a lot worse for you at home. All the lads from Barnoldswick send their sympathy. They all miss him, and would have done anything to save him. He was bringing in a wounded man when he was hit, and they are both missing. He was the best lad I had – always willing and cheerful and a hard worker – afraid of nothing, and was in rare spirits at the thought of going over the top. He met his death like a hero, I am certain, doing his duty nobly. He was a son to be proud of.”

Pte. Pickup was 24 years of age. He had been in France two years, and was awarded the D.C.M. in October last, being the fifth Barnoldswick man to win that distinction. Before enlisting he was employed as a weaver at Messrs. Albert Hartley and Co.’s sheeting works. Three of his brothers are serving in France, one in Ireland, and the other in the navy.

20 April 1917

HONOURS FOR BARNOLDSWICK STRETCHER-BEARERS

In a recent letter to his wife, Sergt. J.H. Whiteley, Duke of Wellington’s (S.B. Coy), writes:– “You will have seen by the papers that the luck is still with us. I have just heard that we have captured 8,000 at Vimy and 30 guns – and still going strong. It looks like being on the winning side now, doesn’t it? I can see visions of Blackpool or Douglas before the summer is over. Ben Pilkington and myself have got the Military Medal for that bombing raid when Johnny Pickup was killed. I am sending you my gallantry card to take care of. I was a bit surprised when the officer sent for me and congratulated me. There were five other officers present, and I had to sit down with them while they wished me luck and drunk my health. Of course, the other lads had done as much as I had, and I’m only sorry they didn’t all get something. I recommended some of them, and had no idea I had been recommended myself. It is all a matter of luck but I would rather have gone without anything to have Johnny back with us again. I am keeping all right; nothing to worry about; getting plenty to eat. Bert Wilkin is our cook, you know, and he makes some rare feeds, especially when we are out of the trenches. He is quite a nap hand at roly-poly puddings. I intend making a bit of a tea-party when we are out of the trenches again for all the stretcher-bearers who were with me that night.”

Sergt. Whiteley has been out in France two years. He had previously served in South Africa during the Boer war, and holds the Ambulance Medal for that campaign. He is a son of Mr. John Whiteley, tailor, Chapel Street, Barnoldswick.

27 April 1917

BARNOLDSWICK – MEMORIAL SERVICE

A very impressive memorial service for the late Pte. John Ed. Pickup, a stretcher-bearer of the Duke of Wellington’s, whose death was recorded in our columns a fortnight ago, was held at the Wesleyan Church on Sunday morning. There was a large congregation, including some 50 members of the Barnoldswick Ambulance and Nursing Divisions, with which the deceased was formerly connected. These had marched from the Drill Hall in command of Supt. J.W. Thompson. Before commencing his sermon, the Rev. W. Bradfield, M.A., B.D., said:– “In the midst of our rejoicing this morning, we remember one of our young men who went out from amongst us and has now been called hence – Pte. John Edward Pickup, a stretcher-bearer in the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, who had behaved himself with conspicuous gallantry and has been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. He was afterwards striving to do his duty bravely and devotedly to help his comrades, when in the midst of it his course was ended on March 29th. He was only 24 years of age, and in thus trying to render assistance to those who had been injured in this great struggle he himself was called away. Words fail me when I speak of things like this. We leave him in the hands of God, but to his father and mother and all the rest of the family in their great sorrow we tender our most heartfelt sympathy. And whilst I say this I also want to add that there is another of our young men, Pte. J.A. Plumbley, of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, aged 22, who is reported missing. You know the terribly deep agony and suspense that that word conveys. To his parents also our hearts go out in deepest sympathy.” The hymn ‘Now the labourer’s task is o’er’ was then sung, and at the close the organist (Mr. C.L. Waller) played the ‘Dead march.'

25 January 1918

BARNOLDSWICK

WESLEYAN ‘AT HOMES’ – INTERESTING PRESENTATION

These popular gatherings were held an Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings last week, and in spite of numerous counter attractions were accorded a fair amount of patronage. An interesting feature on the opening night was the presentation of a wristlet watch to Pte. Linnaeus Pilkington, a stretcher-bearer in the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, in recognition of his winning the Military Medal. Pte. Pilkington’s parents now reside at Nelson, but he attended the Wesleyan Sunday School for 12 years before leaving Barnoldswick and is on the ‘Roll of Honour.’ The Rev. A. Bradfield, (sup. minister), in the course of a few remarks said the conferment of the medal to Pte. Pilkington made the seventh distinction of its kind worn by former scholars. One of these (Sergt. J. Bury) had been awarded both the D.C.M. and the M.M., while the remainder were five stretcher-bearers all belonging to the same battalion, viz., Sergt. P.H. Garratt., Sergt. J. Whiteley, Pte. F. Bracewell (D.C.M). Pte. J.S. [J.E.] Pickup (killed). and Pte. Pilkington. The latter was loudly cheered on rising to receive the watch, which was buckled to his wrist by Mrs. J. Toft (who presided).

31 May 1918

CRAVEN AND THE WAR

Pte. H. Pickup, Barnoldswick

News was received yesterday (Thursday) morning, in a letter from a comrade, of the. death of Pte. Herbert Pickup. Highland Light Infantry, who was killed in action on Friday last (May 24th). He was 19 years of age, and the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. James Pickup, Cherrydene, Barnoldswick, whose other son, Pte. John Ed. Pickup, D.C.M., was killed earlier in the war.

07 June 1918

CRAVEN AND THE WAR

Pte. Herbert Pickup, Barnoldswick

Above is a portrait of Pte. Herbert Pickup, Highland Light Infantry, who (as briefly reported last week) was killed in France on May 24th, aged 19 years. This is the second bereavement of the war which has befallen Mr. and Mrs. James Pickup, Cherrydene. Barnoldswick, elder son. Pte. John Edward Pickup, whose services as a stretcher-bearer in the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment won the Distinguished Conduct Medal, having been killed in March, 1917. Pte. Herbert Pickup enlisted in February, 1915, when only 16 years of age, in the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, and went out to the Dardanelles in the September following. After the evacuation he spent a short time in Egypt before going to France. After a statement by Mr. Tennant in the House of Commons his parents reclaimed him six months prior to attaining the age of 18, and he returned home. On being recalled to the colours he joined the Royal Scots at Edinboro’, and was transferred to the Highland Light Infantry on returning to France in March last.