John William Pickford

Story:
John William Pickford was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 3 Dec 1894 the son of Mary Ellen Pickford (no father has been identified).  (He was registered at birth as John William but always used John Edwin or the family name of Jack thereafter). By 1901 Mary had married Edward Genge and they were living in Chapel Lane, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset, along with Mary's children including John.    He enlisted and joined the 15th (The King's) Hussars as a Private (Service No. 29613).   It is not known in which theatre of war he served in but on his discharge on 25 Mar 1919 was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.   He then took up residence at 10 Gold Hill, Shaftesbury, but by the 1921 Census he had moved to Stoney Path, Alcester, Shaftesbury, working as a Farmhand.   On 28 Nov 1920 he had married Beatrice Annie Barter at Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury.   By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved back to 16 Gold Hill, Shaftesbury, working as a Farm Labourer.   He died on 2 Jul 1950 and was buried at St. James Church, Shaftesbury, on 6 Jul 1950.   (N.B. The use of the surnames Genge (that of his step-father) and Pickford were used alternately during his childhood but reverted to Pickford in later life throughout.)