Private Benjamin Pickard

• 

• 

• 

King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, 3rd Battalion, Service no. 20879

Born: 3^rd April 1878.  Died: 2^nd January 1947.

Story

Benjamin was a 5 ft 3½ inches tall coal miner living on School Lane, Kippax when he enlisted into the Army on 2^nd January 1915 in Leeds.  He had a tattoo on his right forearm, and had already had his appendix removed.  Benjamin was the son of James Pickard (1845-1907) and Mary Townend (1850-1929), and he had married Alice Smith in Allerton Bywater on 12^th January 1901.  The couple had 3 children: Alfred on 20^th December 1901; John on 10^th January 1905; and Harriet 13^th April 1907.

Benjamin was approaching his 36^th birthday when he joined his regiment, and served in France from 24^th March 1916 to 12^th November 1916.  On 20^th May 1916, he was admitted to hospital with influenza, on 30^th September 1916 he was treated for a bruised side; and he was hospitalised twice more on 14^th and 29^th October with contusions on his ribs.  He was sent back to the County of Middlesex War Hospital for 18 days on 13^th November 1916 to be treated for shell shock and bronchitis.  On 8^th November, Benjamin was sent to the East Leeds War Hospital, Harehills Road with bronchitis again, and was discharged from the army two days later suffering from shaking, a bad cough and bad chest.  

After the war, Benjamin lived at 4 Carter’s Yard, Kippax, and left mining to become a general labourer.  He passed away at the age of 69.

Below: Soldiers from the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry recovering in hospital:

<< Joseph Pease
Thomas Cyril Plows >>
Injured Soldiers Home Page
Home Page