Dedicated to the memory of all the men and women of the South Staffordshire area who died during the two World Wars.
Reginald James Pickett was born at Steeple Aston, Oxfordshire, on 7th June 1898 and was baptised at Steeple Aston Church on 10th July. He was the son of James Pickett, a gardener, and his wife, Eliza Ann. By 1911 the family had moved to Elmsdale Cottages, Wightwick.
Reginald enlisted at Wolverhampton toward the end of 1915, joining the 17th Battalion of the King's Royal Rifle Corps. He was killed in action on 19th July 1916 when his battalion was in trenches near Bethune. The battalion war diary records:
19 July: A small raid by the 17th Sherwood Foresters took place on our front but was unsuccessful. The enemy were very active with M G fire during the night. Casualties one OR killed.
Rifleman Pickett, R/17658, was buried in St. Vaast Post Military Cemetery, Richebourg-L'Avoue. He had just celebrated his eighteenth birthday and had been a soldier for less than a year. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.
This memorial has mostly been compiled from official sources. It would be good to be able to expand it with more personal material - memories, stories, photos, etc. If you have any suitable material or any corrections please contact Greg.