Private, 1/5th Battalion. North Staffordshire Regiment. Service No: 50433.
Early life:
Allan was born in Oakworth on May 3, 1894 and his parents were Albert and Grace Pickles. He was baptised at Christ Church in Oakworth on November 11 of the same year. His father Albert was a weaver.
In 1901 he was six years old and living at 20, Commercial Street in Oakworth with his parents, three sisters and one brother. Albert was a Worsted cloth weaver.
By 1911 he was sixteen years of age and living at 136, Commercial Street with his parents, three sisters and one brother. Albert was now a labourer in wool combing and Allan was a worsted weft tube piler.
Allan married Mary Hannah Hodgson at Oakworth on June 14, 1913, registered in Keighley in the second quarter of the year.
Their daughter Ethel was born on October 7 of the same year and Gladys was born on November 13 of 1916.
War service:
Allan enlisted at Keighley for General Service with the 5th Battalion Training Reserve on June 24, 1916 and was called to service on May 4, 1917 at Halifax. He was 23 years old and living at 130, Lane Ends.
His initial service number was TR/5/69612 and this would have been changed to 50433 when he was transferred to the North Staffordshire Regiment. He embarked for France on July 7, 1917 and arrived there the next day. At some point he was attached to the 1st Battalion, Inniskilling Fusiliers and he had been in France for about 5 weeks when he was killed on September 30, 1917.
War diary for the 1st Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, September 1917:
September 28: Battalion moves up and relieves 1st Battalion Essex Regiment in DULWICH CAMP.
September 29: Strength 29 Officers, 955 O.R. Ration strength 20 Officers, 700. O.R.
Bn. moves up and relieves the 2nd Hampshire A & D Companies in the front line, B & C in support and reserve. A very successful relief all companies having reported relief complete and 9.25 pm. 2 Lt P. Taylor wounded during operations.
September 30: Rather quiet day in the line. A few enemy snipers reported active from the other side of the BROEMBEEK. Support Company sustained a few casualties as a result of a pretty accurate salvo.
Bn. HQ’s was shelled intermittently all day. The adjutant (Capt Framingham) Capt Howard and the Regimental Sgt-Major were wounded. Lt E.E.J. Moore carried on with the adjutants duties. Casualties: 5 other ranks.
[Allan was one of these men, and he died of his wounds.]
Allan was buried in grave 10, row A, plot III of Canada Farm Cemetery. His family’s inscription on the CWGC headstone reads: ‘AT REST’
Oakworth cemetery – Family Headstone inscription reads:
In ever loving memory of Albert Pickles; Born Feb 18th 1862; Passed away Jan 28th 1917.
Also of Allan, son of the above; Born May 3rd 1894; Killed in France Sep 30th 1917.
Also of Milton, his son; Born July 30th 1888; Passed away Feb 8th 1947.
Also of Grace, his beloved wife; Born Nov 13th 1864; Passed away May 20th 1950.
He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal for his war service.
Allan is remembered on the Oakworth War Memorial in Holden Park, Oakworth and on The Oakworth Great War Centenary roll of honour which is on display at Oakworth Community Hall in Oakworth.
