Frank Pickburn

He was the only surviving son of Frank Pickburn and Mary Pickburn (nee Taylor). Frank senior died in 1911 age 58 (death registered Jan/Feb/Mar). At the time of the 1911 census Frank's widow, Mary, was living at 8 Kyme Street, Radford, with her unmarried daughter, Florence (17), and working from home as a lace hand. According to the information she provided for the census she had had eight children of whom five were still living; these were probably Elizabeth, Eliza, Rose, Frank and Florence who appear on the four census between 1881 and 1911. One of the children who died in infancy was a boy, also named Frank, who was recorded in the 1881 census, aged two years. At that time Frank senior, a stoker at gasworks (Nottingham Corporation), lived in 'the yard behind 7 King's Place, Nottingham' with his two children, Elizabeth Pickburn (4) and Frank Pickburn (2); the latter being the son who probably died in infancy. Frank was described as unmarried but also in the household was Mary Taylor, also unmarried, who was listed as his housekeeper. She and Frank were married in 1884 (Taylor and 'Pickbourn', registered Oct/Nov/Dec); it is likely that both children named in the 1881 census were theirs. In 1891 the family - Frank (38), Mary (34), Elizabeth (13), Eliza (7), Rose (5) and Frank - was living at 6 Leone Terrace, John Street, Basford. Ten years later in 1901 they were living at 7 Ronald Street, Radford. Frank (12) was still at home and now had a younger sister, Florence (7); the older siblings were no longer in the household. Frank joined the RMLI in 1906 and in 1911 was based at the Royal Marine Barracks/Melville Hospital Barracks in Chatham, Kent. At the time of Frank's death in October 1914 his mother was living at 9 Mansfield Street, Sherwood, but she moved later as the CWGC record gives her address as 20 Derwent Terrace, Sherwood.

He enlisted in the Royal Marine Light Infantry on 3 March 1906.

He enlisted in the Royal Marine Light infantry (Chatham Division) on 3 March 1906. He died onboard HMS Hawke which was operating in the North Sea when she was sunk by torpedo from German submarine U-9 (Capt Weddigen). Hawke sank in a few minutes with the loss of her commander, 26 officers and 497 men; only 74 of the ship's company of 594 were saved. Frank's body was not recovered for burial and he is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial.

Nottingham Post notice (abridged) 24 October 1914: 'Pickburn on 15th October, Corporal Frank Pickburn, RMLI, only son of Mary and the late Frank Pickburn, who perished in the North Sea. Late of Radford.' Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 15 October 1915. ‘Pickburn. In loving memory of Corporal Frank Pickburn, RMLI, of HMS Hawke, who died (-) October 15th, 1914. And the stately ships go (-) the haven under the hill, But, oh, for the touch of a vanish’d hand, And a sound of a voice that (-). From mother, Rose, Florry, Eliza (Albert).’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 16 October 1916: ‘Pickburn. In loving memory of Corporal Frank Pickburn, RMLI, HMS Hawke, sank October 15th, 1914. Christ will link the broken chain closer when we meet again. Mother, sisters Rose, Florry, Eliza, Albert.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 16 October 1916: ‘Pickburn. In loving memory of our dear brother, Corporal Frank Pickburn, RMLI, lost in the North Sea on HMS Hawke, October 15th, 1914. Though lost to sight, in memory ever dear. Mr Samuel Kerry and family; also Private G Kerry (in Khartourm).’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) The family home was in Radford from at least 1901 and as a result Frank has been identified as the 'F Pickbourn' on the Radford Christ Church School memorial. His surname on the Christ Church School memorial is spelt 'Pickbourne' (spelling as the record of his father's marriage).