Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Commemorated on St James' Roll of Honour, Sydney, New South Wales: '"He that loseth his life for my sake shall find it." Matthew 10:39. In memory of those associated with St James' Church who gave their lives in the Great War.' Parents: Frank and Kate PICKERING, Vaughan Street, Lidcombe, New south Wales

BRAVE PICKERING BROTHERS.
In the two brothers Pickering, Auburn provided the British Army in France with just the sort of fighters that are required at times  to undertake tasks that are full of risk, but which are necessary to find out what is going on in the enemy's lines, and also to  harry the enemy as much as possible. A regiment or two of lads of the dash and fearlessness of the Auburn Pickerings would  make things pretty warm for the Huns on the Western front. Unfortunately, however, these two young heroes 'are now out of  action. One went for a flight over the German lines and did not return, and not many days afterwards tho other was killed in action. The elder was Aerial Signaller Frank Hessell Pickering, aged 23 years (nicknamed 'Snow'), and tho other Gunner Rowland  T. Pickering (commonly known as ' ' Sol ' ') was 20 years. They were respectively the oldest and second sons of Mr. John Pickering, a well-known member of the clerical stnff at Clyde railway yards, within the boundary of which his residence is  situated. The former lad, whilst in camp, was attached to the 12th Reinforcements of the 3rd Battalion. Prior to going to the front he went to Broadmeadows (Melbourne) and obtained a certificate as signaller. He left Sydney on 21st December, last year, for  the war, and whilst in Egypt was drafted into C Company of tho 3rd Battalion. He was six weeks in Egypt and went with the first  lot of troops to France, where they arrived early in April. He there went into an aviation school and passed an examination for  the position of signaller, gaining 95 marks out of a hundred. He was attached to headquarters staff, with the position of aerial  signaller to his Battalion. In one of his letters he mentioned having had half-a-dozon flights up till then, some of them being with  a daring pilot, who had been credited with bombing some big munition factories in Germany. His last individual letter to his parents was dated 28th June, but he and his brother, who were attached to the same company, sent, conjointly, a field card  dated 20th July, on which they reported that they were quite well. Four days afterwards 'Snow' was officially reported missing.  He had gone on a mission up in the clouds, but he never returned. He may have been brought down by the enemy and captured, but judging by a cablegram which the parents received from the other son, conveying the first intimation of the mishap, they  fear the worst has happened. Tho cable was received on 15th August, and read 'Frank missing, fear hopeless.' Two days after  that Rowland was killed, in action. Frank before enlisting held a position as telegraph operator at Parliament House. He belonged to tho old Granville League of Wheelmen, and also the South Sydney League, and was one of the crack riders. One of tho last  races he rode in was with the late Pte. Tommy Hammond.
Gunner Rowland T. Pickering enlisted about the same timoe as his brother, but was placed in the ,13th Reinforcements of the 3rd Battalion. He worked in the blacksmith's shop at Clyde Engineering Works. He left for the front as a bugler on 6th January last,  and in Egypt was drafted into C Company of the same battalion along with his brother. In France he joined tho machine-gun  section, and whenever volunteers were called to go on any daring expedition, 'Sol' was always one of the first to offer his  services. He had taken part in a number of raids on tho German trenches. On one occasion ho was one of a party sent to take observations of Germans erecting defence works. They crept on their stomachs for a good distance through mud and slush and  watched tho Huns fixing up wire entanglements, etc. After they got all the information they wanted they 'scooted' back to their  trenches with all haste, but tho enemy spotted them, and bullets fell thick amongst them. They, however, were lucky enough to  reach home with the loss of only one man. His parents on Friday last received oficial notification that he was killed in action on 17th August. 'Sol' know not what fear was. He would go anywhere and be in the front rank, too.