Northumberland Fusiliers, 32nd Reserve Battalion, Service no. 32/295
Died of wounds 16th June 1917, aged 22
Story
Born in Seacroft in 1894, Hedley came from a well-known Seacroft cricketing family, and Hedley himself had earned a local reputation for having a remarkable throw with a cricket ball.
Hedley had worked as a North Eastern Railway Porter at Ledston for nine months by the time he enlisted in December 1915. He initially joined the 32nd Reserve Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers, and moved to the 16th and 13th Battalions.
Private Pickersgill would have been involved in battles around Amiens, Arras and Cambrai. He died of wounds in a casualty clearing station. He was buried at the Achiet-Le-Grand Communal Cemetery (I.L.6).
On 27th July 1917 in the local press, Hedley was listed among 26 local men who had been killed in action (below), with a service of remembrance being held for them. Despite being listed here, Hedley was not subsequently listed on the Kippax and Ledston War Memorial in 1921.
Kippax Roll of Honour 