Nov 24, 1877

Born in Knapton, Yorkshire, England

Jul 7, 1911

Embarked the SS Victorian in Liverpool with his wife Edith

Jul 15, 1911

Disembarked in Montreal, Quebec and proceeded to Kingston, Ontario

Nov 11, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 59798

Ø  Next of kin given as Mrs. AW Pickering, wife, 26 Dufferin St., Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Labourer

Ø  Previous military experience given as 7 years in the 19^th Yorkshire Regiment, Imperial Army

Ø  Religion given as Church of England

Ø  Posted to “A” Company

o   Later posted to the Headquarters Company and employed in the Orderly Room as a Clerk. 

The battalion trained in the Kingston area through the winter of 1914-15

Feb 1, 1915

Employed as a Batman to Capt GS Sparkes, Transport Officer

May 6, 1915

Embarked the RMS Metagama in Montreal, Quebec

May 15, 1915

Disembarked in Devonport, England and the battalion proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent to continue training

Sep 11, 1915

Transferred to the Depot Company

Sep 14, 1915

The 21^st Battalion embarked for France however, Private Pickering remained in England

Sep 25, 1915

Transferred to the 39^th Reserve Battalion in West Sandling

Nov 16, 1915

Struck Off Strength as a Deserter

Feb 16, 1916

Taken into custody to await trial and posted to the 39^th Reserve Battalion

Mar 3, 1916

Tried by District Court Martial and sentenced to 154 days Detention for Desertion

Jun 30, 1916

Medical exam notes that man suffers from Varicose Veins and cannot march

Jul 3, 1916

Released from detention early and transferred to the CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) for pay purposes and attached to the 39^th Reserve Battalion in West Sandling for permanent base duty

Jan 4, 1917

Attached to the newly formed 6^th Reserve Battalion in West Sandling for duty

Mar 1, 1917

Admitted to the Moore Barracks Hospital in Shorncliffe with a diagnosis that reads Haemorrhoids

Noted on admission

Ø  Has external Haemorrhoids

Ø  Suffering from Bronchitis

Ø  Has Varicose Veins in right leg below the knee

Ø  Right leg is painful when marching

Mar 10, 1917

Transferred to the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) for pay purposes while in hospital but still shown as attached to the 6^th Reserve Battalion

Mar 17, 1917

Allowed to do light duties at the Moore Barracks Hospital as a Ward Orderly

Apr 23, 1917

Discharged from hospital and reported to the Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot in Seaford

May 6, 1917

Transferred to the CAMC (Canadian Army Medical Corps) and posted to the Moore Barracks Hospital in Shorncliffe for duty

Oct 29, 1917

The Moore Barracks Hospital was renamed No. 11 Canadian General Hospital

Feb 19, 1918

Transferred to the Canadian Army Medical Corps Depot in Westenhanger, Kent

Feb 23, 1918

Attached to the 1^st CDD (Canadian Discharge Depot) in Buxton pending return to Canada

Feb 27, 1918

Embarked the SS Ongar (formerly SS Corsican)

Mar 16, 1918

Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Nov 16, 1918

Discharged from the CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Private

Ø  Entitled to War Service Badge Class “B”

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge Kingston, Ontario

Following his discharge, the British War Medal was sent to him c/o Mrs. Edith Pickering, 26 Dufferin St., Kingston, Ontario

Sep 18, 1952

Albert William Pickering was reported by his widow, Edith Pickering, 35 Dufferin St., Kingston, Ontario, to have died, but no location either of his death or burial was given. 

In July, 1919 a partial payment of his War Service Gratuity was sent to him at 14 Shepherd St., St. Leonard’s-on-Sea, Sussex, England.  The remainder was sent to Canada, presumably to his wife Edith, in Kingston, Ontario

The August 1935 issue of the Communiqué (the 21^st Battalion Association post war newsletter) reports that he was living at No. 2 London Road, Aylesford, near Maidstone, Kent, England.