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Philip Dobson PICKLES

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Surname: PICKLES

Forename(s): Philip Dobson

Place of Birth: Leeds, Yorkshire

Service No: ---

Rank: Surgeon

Regiment / Corps / Service: Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve

Battalion / Unit: H.M.S. 'Russell'

Division: ---

Age: 33

Date of Death: 1916-04-28

Awards: ---

CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: Plot. 39.

CWGC Cemetery: MALTA (CAPUCCINI) NAVAL CEMETERY

CWGC Memorial: ---

Non-CWGC Burial: ---

Local War Memorial: EARBY, YORKSHIRE

Additional Information:

Philip Dobson Pickles was the son of John Jagger and Lucy Pickles, née Dobson and brother of Captain Clifford Crawshaw Pickles (q.v.). Their father was born at Shelf and mother at Dodworth, Yorkshire. Another son of John and Lucy, William Norman, who also became a doctor, was married to Gertrude Adelaide Tunstill. Gertrude was the sister of Harry Gilbert Tunstill who was instrumental in raising recruits for the army early in the Great War. Ultimately these recruits became ‘A’ Coy 10th (Service) Bn Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment).

1891 Leeds, Yorkshire Census: 105, Camp Road - Philip D. Pickles, aged 8 years, born Leeds, son of John J. and Lucy Pickles.

1901 Honley, Yorkshire Census: 37, Church Street - Philip Dobson Pickles, aged 18 years, born Leeds, Yorkshire. [Philip was visiting Thomas and Esther Smailes.]

1911 Leeds, Yorkshire Census: 105, Camp Road - Philip Dobson Pickles, aged 28 years, born Leeds, son of John Jagger and Lucy Pickles.

Philip is commemorated on the Leeds University War Memorial.

See also:
‘Earby in the First World War’ by Stephanie Carter, published by Earby & District Local History Society (2014).
‘Our Finest Crop’ by Steven Marshall, published by Earby & District Local History Society (2020).

Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry

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Entry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record: ---

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Surgeon Philip Dobson PICKLES

Surgeon Philip Dobson PICKLES

Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve

Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve

Data from Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 - 1919 Records

Soldiers Died Data for Soldier Records

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Born:

Residence:

Enlisted:

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Rank:

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Theatre of War:

Notes:

Data from Commonwealth War Graves Commission Records

CWGC Data for Soldier Records

Surname: PICKLES

Forename(s): Philip Dobson

Country of Service: United Kingdom

Service Number:

Rank: Surgeon

Regiment: Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve

Unit: H.M.S. "Russell"

Age: 33

Awards:

Died Date: 28/04/1916

Additional Information: Son of John Jagger Pickles. Born at Leeds.

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England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966

1916

PICKLES Philip Dobson of Early [sic] Yorkshire died 28 April 1916 at The Royal Naval Hospital Malta Probate Wakefield 28 June to John Jagger Pickles surgeon. Effects £1078 9s.

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Malta (Capuccini) Naval Cemetery

Malta (Capuccini) Naval Cemetery

CWGC Headstone

Courtesy of Denis Otter

Malta (Capuccini) Naval Cemetery

Malta (Capuccini) Naval Cemetery

CWGC Headstone - detail

Courtesy of Denis Otter

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05 May 1916

PICKLES – April 28th, at Malta, in a Naval Hospital, aged 33 years, Philip Dobson Pickles, of Earby, Surgeon, R.N.V.R. (H.M.S. Russell), eldest son of J. J. Pickles, surgeon, Camp Road, Leeds.

05 May 1916

EARBY DOCTOR DIES IN MALTA – VICTIM OF THE ‘RUSSELL’ DISASTER

News was received at Earby on Saturday that Dr. Philip Dobson Pickles had died in hospital at Malta as the result of injuries received during the disaster to H.M.S. ‘Russell,’ the sinking of which in the Mediterranean was reported the previous day. Dr. Pickles’ name first appeared among the list of those rescued, but the news of his death followed shortly afterwards. He was 33 years of age, and unmarried.

A son of Dr. J. J. Pickles, Camp Road, Leeds, he was the eldest of six brothers all trained to the medical profession, two of whom are serving in military hospitals. Deceased was a member of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, and was called up for duty on the ‘Russell’ on August 2nd, 1914, two days before the declaration of war.

He had been on active duty ever since, spending a great part of the time in the North Sea before going to the Mediterranean.

He was educated at Leeds Grammar School, and the Leeds School of Medicine, and after qualifying went as resident house physician at Leeds Infirmary, subsequently spending some time at the Public Dispensary as resident medical officer.

After a voyage to India he acted as locum tenens at various places before settling at Earby, where he succeeded Dr. Cantor.

As a surgeon in the R.N.V.R. he took part in the Grand Review at Spithead, and joined H.M.S. ‘Russell,’ August, 2nd, 1914, on which he has been serving ever since.

He was poisoned by gas fumes as a result of the explosion, and died the next day in hospital at Malta.

Dr. Pickles was one of five brothers who joined H.M. Forces – three in the Army and two in the Navy – four of them being medical officers.

He had been at Earby three years when he was called up, and being of a bright and genial disposition, was universally respected. A keen sportsman, he was a member of the Ghyll Golf Club and an enthusiastic follower of the Craven Hunt whenever his professional duties permitted.

Dr. Pickles paid his last visit to Earby in November last, when he was home on furlough. On the Wednesday before his death his housekeeper at Earby received from him a postcard bearing the brief message, “No news, but still merry and bright.”

Arrangements are being made for the Earby practice to be carried on by deceased’s brother, Dr. C. C. Pickles.

23 June 1916

EARBY DOCTOR’S WEDDING

The marriage took place on Wednesday, the 14th inst., at St. Mary’s Church, Boston Spa, of Mr. Cliffford Crawshaw Pickles, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P of Earby, to Miss Dorothy Beatrice Emily Wilkinson, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wilkinson, of Leeds and Boston Spa. The bridegroom, formerly a captain in the R.A.M.C., is the third son of Dr. and Mrs. J.J. Pickles of Leeds. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Reginald Harvey, rector of Barwick-in-Elmet, assisted by the Rev. Reginald G. Glennie, vicar of St. Mary’s. Dr. T.T. Pickles of Aysgarth, brother of the bridegroom, was the ‘best man.’ There was no reception owing to the recent death of another brother of the bridegroom, who went down in H.M.S. Russell in the Mediterranean.

29 December 1916

DR. C.C. PICKLES OF EARBY

Dr. Clifford Crawshaw Pickles died suddenly on Friday at the house of his father, Dr. John J. Pickles, in Camp Road, Leeds, at the age of 30. He was educated at the Leeds Grammar School and the Leeds University. From April to July, 1915, he served in France as a captain in the R.A.M.C., bur owing to ill-health he was invalided out of the service in October of that year. He then succeeded in the practice at Earby of his brother, the late Dr. P.G. Pickles, who was lost in the Mediterranean last April. He was married to Miss Dorothy Wilkinson, of Boston Spa, last June, and three of his brothers are now serving, two as medical men in the Navy and Army.

The funeral was on Tuesday at Lawnswood, Leeds. The service was conducted by the Rev. Canon J. Longbottom, and at its close three volleys were fired over the grave by a firing party from Pontefract, under the command of Capt. Hill, and the ‘Last Post’ was sounded. The bearers were the following R.A.M.C. officers from the 2nd Northern General Hospital:–Major J.K. Jamieson, Capt. W. Cough, Capt. A. Gough, Capt. W.M. Mumby, Lieut. C.H. Sedgwick, and Lieut. Child. Among the wreaths sent was one from the officers of the West Riding Field Ambulance. The mourners included:–

Mrs. Clifford Pickles (widow), Dr. and Mrs. J.J. Pickles (father and mother), Dr. J.J. Pickles, jun., Capt. H.D. Pickles, R.A.M.C. (T), and Gunner C.E. Pickles, R.F.A. (brothers), Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wilkinson (father and mother-in-law), Dr. Joseph Dobson (uncle), Lieut-Col. J.F. Dodson, Capt. D.F. Dobson, and Mr. W. Broadhead (cousins), Mr. E.F. Wilkinson, Mr. R. Wilkinson and Lance-Corpl. G. Wilkinson (brothers-in-law), Miss Sarah Carrack, Mrs. Wells, Lieut.-Col. W. Thompson, Major R. Lawford Knaggs, and Captain A. Richardson (Leeds General Infirmary), Capt. J.R. Wynne-Edwards and Mr. R. Wilson (Leeds Grammar School), Dr. and Mrs. J. Holmes, Dr. J.J. Anning, Mr. Richard Jackson, Mr. H. Wild, Mr. E.D.H. Rowntree, and Mr. Arthur Hanson.

17 August 1917

EARBY – IN MEMORY OF THE BRAVE

On August 1st, at St. George’s Church, Royal Naval Barracks, Chatham, a stained glass window and a memorial tablet of Sicilian marble were dedicated by the chaplain of the Fleet (Archdeacon H. Singleton Wood) to the memory of the officers and men of H.M.S. Russell, which struck a mine in the Mediterranean on April 7th 1916.

In the list of names on the tablet was that of Surgeon P. D. Pickles, R.N.V.R., who was formerly in practice at Earby.

04 July 1919

PEACE SUPPLEMENT TO THE 'CRAVEN HERALD' – CRAVEN'S FALLEN OFFICERS: DR. PHILIP D. PICKLES

H.M.S. ‘Russell,’ formerly of Earby, was a son of Dr. J. J. Pickles, Camp Road, Leeds, the eldest of six brothers all trained in the medical profession, died in hospital at Malta as the result of injuries received during the sinking of his ship.

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05 May 1916

EARBY DOCTOR DIES IN MALTA – Victim of the ‘Russell’ Disaster

News was received at Earby on Saturday that Dr. Philip Dobson Pickles had died in hospital at Malta as the result of injuries received during the disaster to H.M.S. ‘Russell,’ the sinking of which in the Mediterranean was reported the previous day. Dr. Pickles’ name first appeared among the list of those rescued, but the news of his death followed shortly afterwards. He was 33 years of age, and unmarried. A son of Dr. J.J. Pickles, of Camp Road, Leeds, he was one of five brothers who joined the Forces, 3 being in the army and 2 in the navy, and four of them were medical officers. Deceased was a member of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, and was called up for duty on the ‘Russell’ on August 2nd, 1914, two days before the declaration of war. He has been on active duty ever since, spending a great portion of the time in the North Sea before going to the Mediterranean. He was educated at Leeds Grammar School and the Leeds School of Medicine, and after qualifying went to the Leeds General Infirmary as a resident house physician. Subsequently he spent some time at the Public Dispensary as a resident Medical Officer. After a voyage to India he acted as locum tenens at various places before settling in Earby, where he succeeded to the practice of the late Dr. Cantor. He had been at Earby 3 years when he was called up. In the village and the district he was universally respected. A keen sportsman, he was a member of the Ghyll Golf Club and an enthusiastic follower of the Craven Hunt whenever his professional duties permitted. Dr. Pickles paid his last visit to Earby in November last, when he was home on furlough. On the Wednesday before his death his housekeeper received from him a post card bearing the brief message:–“No news, but still merry and bright.”

A later message says that Dr. Pickles was poisoned by gas fumes as the result of the explosion, and died the next day in hospital.

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