Hull Pals Memorial Post. PRIVATE ERNEST CARTER PICKERING 11/952. Born at Hull, in January 1896, Ernest was one of four children to Edward and Jenny Pickering of 6 Ethels Villas, Blake Street, Brunswick Ave, Hull. A Porter before the war, he enlisted at Hull City Hall on Thursday 10th September 1914 joining the 11th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment, ‘The Tradesmen’, 2nd Hull Pals. He was described as 5 foot, 8 inches tall, 141 lbs weight, 36-38 inch chest size, of “Good” physical development, fresh complexion, blue eyes, brown hair, Wesleyan Religion.
One of the Original Hull Pals, he served in Egypt over the winter of 1915 before shipping to France the following March. A veteran of the Somme, Oppy Wood and the German Spring Offensive, had two wound stripes. Ernest almost made it to the Armistice, but alas his luck finally ran out on 6th September 1918, when he was caught without his mask, when a Mustard Gas shell exploded nearby. His lungs were exposed, and despite being removed from the line to the camps at Boulogne, he spent a painful week choking his life away in a hospital bed. Ernest died on 14th September 1918. He had served in the army for 4 years and 6 days. He is buried in Terlincthun Military Cemetery; He was unmarried, aged 23 years old and left his brother, Herbert and two sisters, Hilda and Laura, to mourn his loss. His name is also listed on the Hull Gardener’s Society Memorial at Hull Minster. his army effects were left to his mother jenny, who moved to 104 Fountain Road, Hull.
