Born at Windsor, Berkshire, on the 18th of March 1822, the son of William and Ann Pickworth.
The I.G.I. register shows him as being baptised as John Atkins Pickworth on the 11th of April 1824 at the New Windsor, William Street, Independent Non-Conformist Chapel, the son of William and Anne Pickworth.
John Pickworth's father, William, was baptised at the Quarrington with Old Sleaford Parish Church, Lincs, on the 27th of March 1786, the son of William and Sarah Pickworth.
William Pickworth, by trade a musician, enlisted for a term of three years into the Royal Horse Guards as No. 116 at Windsor Barracks on the 16th of July 1809. He was 23 years and three months of age, 5' 4" in height, and had a fair complexion, grey eyes, and brown hair.
He re-enlisted for further periods on the 6th of June 1812, 18th of July 1815 and again on the 18th of March 1818 "until legally discharged".
In 1821 the R.H.G. were at long last granted by the King the status of Household Cavalry, with the privilege, denied them until then, of mounting the King's Life Guard in London.
They moved, therefore, from Windsor to the new barracks in Albany Street, near Regent's Park, which had been completed that year to replace those in Portman Square.
From there they then took on the Royal Guards, which were now the responsibility of the regiment at Regent's Park, while those at Hyde Park Barracks had the less enviable task of maintaining law and order in the capital.
William Pickworth was finally discharged from Regent's Park Barracks on the 23rd of January 1849 after 38 years 308 days service, at the age of 62 years 270 days. He had served only in England.
The medical Report on his discharge stated:
Musician William Pickworth of the Royal Horse Guards is discharged unfit for the service in consequence of "Dyspepsia". His disability is the result of age, and long service..."
His conduct and character were described as "Very good" — "he is in possession of seven distinguishing marks for good conduct and has received the silver medal for long service, with a gratuity, on his discharge."
The Old Windsor parish records show that his father was married three times: 14th of May 1808 (before he enlisted), 14th of November 1820 (this confirms a detail already known), and the 29th of July 1836.
William was shown as a widower when he married John's mother, Ann Fuller, a widow, at Clewer, Berkshire, on the 14th of November 1820. A G.W. Bainbridge, who was a witness at the wedding, was also the executor of his father's will.
A brother, Henry, was shown in the Old Windsor parish records as being baptised from No. 2 Keppel Terrace, Old Windsor, the son of William Pickworth (a Musician, R.H.G.) and a sister, Ann, as late as the 3rd of March 1833.
Other entries in the same register relate to his father's previous marriage and show a number of children:
- Sarah Ann, daughter of William and Hannah Pickworth, baptised November 30th 1810
- Mary Hannah, daughter of William (a musician in the Royal Horse Guards)
- Hannah Pickworth, baptised May 29th 1815
- Emma Matilda, daughter of William and Hannah Pickworth, of Spital [a locality in the Borough of New Windsor], baptised on the 28th of August 1817
- Maria, daughter of William and Hannah Pickworth of Spital, Musician in the R.H.G., baptised on the 18th of March 1818.
The I.G.I refers to his third marriage as being to Elizabeth Palmer at Clewer on the 29th of July 1836.
After his discharge from the Army William Pickworth was living in the North London Pension District, but moved to the No. 1 West London District in June 1849 and this is where he died on the 5th of October 1860.
In his will he left his personal estate (of under £300) to his widow, Elizabeth. He was then described as being a "cabinet-maker".
Extract from the "Windsor and Eton Express", 8th of October 1860:
"Death — On the 5th inst., at his home, No. 11 Keppel Terrace, Windsor, Mr. William Pickworth, aged 77 years."
He was buried in St. Andrew's churchyard at Clewer, the erected gravestone bearing the inscription:
"Sacred to the memory of Mr. William Pickworth, who departed this life 5th October 5th 1860, aged 77 years. Also Elizabeth (Third wife of the above) died March 8th 1892, aged 95 years."
There is no reference to his military service.
There is a photograph of this stone in the 8th Hussar file.
Enlisted at London into the 15th Hussars on the 1st of April 1840.
No Regimental No. was allocated as he did not join the regiment from the Depot.
Age: 18.
Height: 5' 9".
Trade: None shown.
Transferred, "by Authority of the Horse Guards", dated the 20th of November 1840, to the 8th Hussars on the 14th of December 1840.
From Private to Corporal: 1st of April 1847.
Tried by a Regimental Court-martial and reduced to Private on the 3rd of May 1848.
From Private to Corporal: 5th of January 1850.
1851 Census
Maidstone Barracks.
John Pickworth, Corporal, unmarried, 29, born Windsor.
Corporal to Sergeant: 19th of June 1854.
Embarked for the Crimea aboard the H.T. "Medora" on the 27th of April 1854. Appointed to Troop Sergeant Major on the 26th of October 1854.
Embarked for India from Cork aboard the S.S. "Great Britain" on the 8th of October 1857.
Promoted to Regimental Sergeant Major on the 16th of October 1857.
Appointed Riding Master on the 31st of August 1858.
He was not married up to the 30th of April 1865.
Marriage registered
John Attkins Pickworth married Margaret Lane, December Quarter 1868, St James Westminster.
He married Margaret Lane, the widow of Quartermaster H.F. Lane, 8th Hussars, at St. James's Church, Westminster, on the 13th of October 1868, "by licence". He was then 46 years 7 months of age, a "bachelor", and she 43 years 9 months, the "Widow of a Soldier (Minor, with consent)" [sic].
His address was given as Edinburgh and hers as "Of the parish". His father is named as William Pickworth and hers as Thomas Nicholson. Both were shown as "Deceased". The officiating priest was the Revd. Henry Ware and the witnesses were Charles Hart and Ellen Marie White.
He signed the Register as "John Attkins Pickworth".
At the Cavalry Depot as Quartermaster from May of 1875.
To the rank of Honorary Captain, and on to half-pay, from the 24th of April 1879.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman and Sebastopol.
Awarded the French War Medal [PB: What is this? Legion d'Honneur? He is not listed as such. Though I notice a reference to it below.]
The citation states:
"Charged with the Light Brigade at the battle of Balaclava; was also present in the ranks at the Alma and Inkerman and served with the regiment throughout the war."
Mutiny medal with clasp for Central India.
Served at Kotah and Gwalior.
Queen Victoria's Jubilee Medal for 1887.
His "Record of Officer's Services" shows him as having been "Recommended by the Commanding Officer for the Victoria Cross for his distinguished conduct during the Light Brigade Charge at Balaclava."
Member of the Balaclava Commemoration Society in 1879.
Appointed a Military Knight of Windsor after his retirement.
From the "Military Knights of Windsor, 1352-1944" by Edmund H. Fellowes:
"Quartermaster (Hon. Captain), John Atkins Pickworth
Admitted to L.F. 24th of April 1879, vice William Stephens, (promoted.) Admitted to R.F. 11th of June 1881, vice William Jones (deceased) of the 8th Regiment of Light Dragoons, (Hussars.) He served in the Crimean War, 1854-55, including the reconnaissance to Silestria, the battles of the Alma, Balaclava (including the Charge of the Light Brigade), Inkerman and the Tchernya, the affairs of the Bulganak and Mackenzie's Farm and the Siege and fall of Sebastopol. (War medal with four clasps, the French War Medal and the Turkish Medal.
Also in the Indian campaign of 1858-59 and was present at the capture of Kotah, the re-occupation of Chundaree, the battle of Kotah Ke Serai, the capture of Gwalior and the action of Boordah. (Medal with clasp.) At his death, on the 22nd of February 1901, Major Charles Grantley Campbell Norton was appointed to the L.F. in his stead."
["L.F." stands for Lower Foundation. From 1835 onwards all appointments were made to the Lower Foundation, and promotion to the Royal Foundation followed, with a fresh Patent, whenever a vacancy occurred.]
1881 Census
1, Military Knights Row, Salisbury Tower, New Windsor
The 1881 Census Returns show him as John Attkins Pickworth, a Captain Half Pay,, Light Cavalry, aged 57, born at Windsor, with his wife, Margaret, aged 56, born at Newcastle, Northumberland, and his two step-children, Anna Maria Lane, aged 34, born in Cahir, Co. Tipperary, and Henry Frederick aged 28, a Captain, 13th Hussars [sic], born at Nottingham.
Birth registered
Henry Frederick Lane [future step-son], March Quarter 1853, Nottingham.
1891 Census
18, Military Knights Row, New Windsor.
John A Pickworth, 67, Retired Captain in Army, born Windsor.
Margaret Pickworth, 66, born Newcastle.
Annie M Lane, 44, born Ireland.
Death registered
Margaret Pickworth, aged 70 years, March Quarter 1896, Windsor.
Deaths registered
John Attkins Pickworth, aged 76 years, March Quarter 1901, Windsor.
Died at No. 18 Lower Ward, Windsor Castle, on the 22nd of February 1901. (See copy of his funeral report taken from the "Windsor and Eton Express" of the period in the 8th Hussar file.)
In his will he left his personal estate of £979 to his step-daughter, Anna Maria Lane.
The tombstone erected to his memory in the Town Cemetery at Windsor bears the following inscriptions:
"In affectionate remembrance of Margaret, the dearly loved wife of Captain J.A. Pickworth, M.K.W. Died at Windsor Castle, 10th of February 1896, aged 70 years. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."
"Also her loving husband, John Attkins Pickworth, Military Knight of Windsor, who died February 22nd 1901, in his 77th year.
He served in the King's Royal Irish Hussars through the Crimean War and in the India Mutiny campaign.
Took part in twelve engagements and was one of the gallant "Six Hundred" of the Light Brigade Charge at Balaclava, being recommended for the Victoria Cross for his coolness and courage. Beloved and respected, he rests in his native town after serving his Queen and Country for 61 years. "Gone from us, but not forgotten. Never shall their memory fade. Sweetest thoughts will ever linger. Round the spot where they are laid."
At the base of the stone there are bronze (or possibly copper) representations (approximately full-size) of the medals awarded to him. On the left hand side of the marble kerb-stone is:
The kerb stone contains an area some six feet or more square."Also of Anna Maria Lane, daughter of Henry Fletcher Lane, Lieut. 8th Hussars and the above Margaret. Born 15th of June 1846 — Died 3rd of November 1933."
A check of the copy medals on his gravestone shows five medals in the group instead of the four which he is known to have been awarded. It has not been possible [1987], to examine the stone more closely. (See close-up photograph of the medal representations and of the stone itself in the 8th Hussar file. The first medal of the group cast in bronze and fastened to the front of his gravestone has now been identified as the Queen's Jubilee medal, and would have been the one awarded in 1887.)
Death registered
Anna M Lane [step-daughter], aged 79, December Quarter 1933, Shepton M[allet].
In a sale of historical documents at Stride's, Chichester, on the 3rd of February 1983:
"Papers connected with John Attkins [sic] Pickworth, a Crimean veteran who rode in the Charge of the Light Brigade, went to the modern descendants of the 8th Hussars for £270."
The family papers of John Pickworth now in the Regimental Museum of the 4th/8th Hussars contain a number of letters from officers and former officers of the regiment testifying to his fitness, ability and qualifications when he was seeking an appointment as an Adjutant of Yeomanry in 1870 and for the post of Governor of the House of Correction at Swansea, for which he was a candidate in 1873. Other items are the warrants for his Legion of Honour and copies of his record of service.
The latter mentions that he has twice been mentioned in the Records of the Regiment. Firstly, "for having distinguished himself by his steadiness and coolness in keeping the men together after the death of the officers in the Light Cavalry Charge at Balaclava", and secondly,
"Was one of a squadron under Major Heneage V.C. which charged into and through the enemy's camp at Kotah-ke-Serai during the Indian Mutiny, when, owing to the death of the officer, he succeeded to the command of a troop covering the retreat and was recommended for, and received the award of the commission left vacant by the death of Lieutenant Reilly, Killed in action".
In another letter, dated the 20th of January 1876, the writer, who signed himself "Richmond and Gordon", made the comment: "I think the Blues may well be proud that such a good soldier as you have been should have been born into the Regiment."
Additional marriage, birth and death registrations, and Census information for 1851 and 1891 kindly provided by Chris Poole.
PB [29.7.2013]: In September 2010 he was the subject of a brief blog entry in the College of St George Archives [http://www.stgeorges-windsor.org/archives/blog/?m=201009 (accessed 29.7.2013)].
PB [4.9.2013]: According to the website "www.hussards-photos.com", Pickworth appeared in a fine photograph of the Cavalry Depot in Canterbury taken in 1878. Along with a copy of the photograph as a whole, and a close up of Pickworth, is a commentary on his service life, including the text of an obituary published in "The Times" on the 23rd of February 1901.
Riding Master John Atkins Pickworth is 6th from the left.