Stephen Pickering

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Sun, 06/09/2015 - 12:09

First Name:

Stephen

Last Name:

Pickering

Mother's Name:

Susan Pickering (nee Rowe)

Father's Name:

Stephen Pickering

Date Enlisted:

Sunday, August 29, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Corporal

Unit:

53rd Battalion

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Sunday, May 13, 1917

Place of Death:

Bullecourt, France

Cause of Death:

Killed in action

Details:

Stephen Pickering (Service No 3598) was born in Woonona, N.S.W., around 1890. As a child he attended Woollarha Public School in Sydney.

He enlisted at the age of 26, at which time he was single, and working as an engine driver for the Railways Department.

Stephen embarked from Sydney on HMAT A60 Aeneas with 8th Reinforcements, 17th Battalion on 20th December 1915.

After arriving in Egypt he was transferred to 53rd Battalion on 3rd April 1916. He was sent on to France, arriving on 28th June 1916. Stephen survived the battle of Fromelle unwounded. However on 1th August 1916 he received a minor wound but was able to remain on duty.

On 28th November 1916 Stephen was promoted to Lance Corporal and soon after, on 10th January 1917, to Corporal.

On 21st February 1917 he was taken to a Casualty Clearing Station with facial paralysis and on 24th February admitted to 18th General Hospital with mumps.

Stephen returned to his unit in France on 23rd March 1917. On 13th May 1917 he was fighting at Bullecourt, France when he was killed in action.

There is no known grave for Stephen. He is commemorated on the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneaux, France.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, PICKERING STEPHEN