Picking, John Alfred

John was the eldest son of John and Caroline (nee Waldock) Picking, born at Ashwell, Hertfordshire on 12 December 1876.  He was a pupil at the Merchant Taylors School in Ashwell.

John first joined the 8^th Queen’s Own Hussars at Hitchin on 29 December 1891, Regimental Number 3429 and was transferred to the 7^th Queen’s Own Hussars on 24 August 1892.  John was posted to India from 3 September 1992 until 22 October 1895.  On 23 October 1895 he was shipped to South Africa where he fought in various battles of the Boer War.  He transferred to the Army Reserve on 29 December 1898 but was recalled to the army, Regimental Number 3828, on 20 December 1899 and was again sent to South Africa where he served until 19 August 1902.  John then went home on leave and was placed on the Army Reserve.

At the outbreak of WWI John enlisted again on 7 September 1914.  He served with the 2^nd Reserve Cavalry Regiment, Regimental Number 29166.  He survived the War.

John was awarded the British South Africa Company Medal with clasp for Matabeleland, the Queen’s South Africa Medal with clasps for Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Belfast, Cape Colony and Orange Free State, the King’s Medal with stripe for South Africa 1901 and 1902, the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.

He is commemorated on the St Mary’s Church Ashwell Roll of Honour.

Before enlisting for WWI was a farm labourer.

John married Mary Ann Rebecca Worboys at Ashwell, Hertfordshire on 20 February 1904.  They had four children, Audrey Mary born 1905, Leslie Jack born 1908, Harry Kenneth Worboys born 1911 and Vera Roberta born 1914.  Mary Ann died in 1937.

The 1939 census shows John living at Newnham, a widower, and farm labourer.

John died at Ashwell, Hertfordshire in the 4^th quarter 1946.

John’s brothers Harold and Ernest also served in the War and survived.