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Horace Lacey Pinker

Alfred Sutton School War Memorial, Trinitiy Congregational Church War Memorial

Horace Lacey Pinker
Private 203760
1st/4th Royal Berkshire Regiment

Pinker HL grave

Private Horace Lacey Pinker was the son of John and Jane Pinker of Reading.  He was killed 5th April 1917, aged 22.  The 1901 census information indicates that his father was a master stone mason. The family were living at 69,London Road and it was from there that John Pinker ran his business. There were then three children with Horace being the middle child, older brother was called Stanley and the younger Harold. By 1911 Jane was a widow, still living at the same address. Horace is misrecorded as Florence and the census return also bears other mistakes. There is no occupation given for Horace and it is assumed that he is either still at school (he was then aged 15) or had no job.

At the time of his death actions were taking place between Cambrai and St. Quentin.  

Private Pinker would have experienced the events which follow in the weeks leading up to his death.   (Details are taken from Petre – History of the Royal Berkshire Regiment)

During misty weather in February 1917 the German army made its secret withdrawal to the Hindenburg line, masked by continuous shelling of the British positions.  Allied Commanders had not fully realised the extent of the withdrawal but partial and curious retreats resulted in more raiding parties to collect prisoners and information. In March as the retreat became obvious and the 48th Division was in the forefront of the chase and open warfare once more took place.  The 1st/4th’s reached Peronne on 20th March.  The mudscape of the battlefields was now far behind and for the first time in many months the men were in open and green countryside where signs of spring breaking could be seen.  The battalion engaged with the enemy again only as they approached the well defended Hindenburg line.

 At the beginning of April the battalion was involved in fighting around Ephey and the village of Ronssoy where a heated battle took place and several men were also killed when the British barrage fell on them by mistake.  It may be that Private Pinker was killed during this fighting.  However, the spirits of the 1st/4th were high.  After this battle the battalion moved back to Hamel for a rest, returning on 13th April to Ronssoy.

 Private Pinker was buried at Templeux-Le-Guerard British Cemetery, the Somme. Grave location I. A. 13.

George Wilson Pike

Army, Registered War Grave, Royal Berkshire Regiment

George Wilson Pike
Private 35412, Depot
Royal Berkshire Regiment

 Division 10

CIMG2151

George Wilson Pike  was the  son of John Hawkins Pike and Mary Wilson Pike.  He was found drowned on 26th December 1917, aged 40.  George Pike  is buried in a registered war grave number 8055 and this is marked with a CWGC war pattern  headstone. 

The details of his death were published in  the Reading Standard on 5th January 1918. 

 A soldier for one day – Factory sorter drowned in the Kennet

George Wilson Pike aged 41, single, a sorter in the employ of Messrs Huntley and Palmers was found dead in the River Kennet..

According to the evidence of two witnesses, one his brother and the other a lady friend, the deceased seemed quite cheerful and to them he had made no suggestion of suicide and nothing seemed to worry him.  A letter found on he deceased addressed to Daisy Annie Short, in which was the following: “Goodbye, God always bless you”.  x x x.  Daisy Short in giving evidence said she had known the deceased for two years and had worked with him.  He did not seem worried about going into the army.  She knew him only as a work mate.    Fitted for a uniform and medically examined and attested at the Barracks he had not turned up for a tattoo the following evening, Friday and was reported absent.  Charles Wheatley a labourer spoke of finding the body in the River.  The jury returned a verdict of “Found drowned” there being no evidence as to how the deceased got into the water.

Arthur Pike

Army, Commemorated name/s, Other Regiments

Arthur Pike
Fitter 87500 “A” Battery
282nd Army Brigade Royal Field Artillery

 Division 68
Extension

Pike A photo

 

Arthur Pike was the son of John and Mary Pike and commemorated on their grave with the words ‘FELL IN ACTION July 30th 1917 and buried at Poperinghe, Belgium.  He is buried in the Gwalia Cemetery, location Plot 1. G. 35.  The grave in the Reading Cemetery is classified as  69B14 according to the  Berkshire Family History Society classification.

 The Gwalia Cemetery was opened at the beginning of July 1917, in the period between the Battle of Messines and the Battles of Ypres.  It lay among the camps in flat country and was used by Infantry units, Artillery and Field Ambulances until September 1918.  The Third Battle of Ypres began on the 31st July 1917.  It is possible that Arthur Pike was killed in counter battery operations prior to the start of the battle.