Alfred Pilkington (1890 - 1915)

Born 10 May 1890 in Preston, Lancashire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Florence Adelaide Collington — married 1914 in Emmanuel Church, Preston, Lancashire, England

Died 25 Apr 1915 at age 24 in Ypres, West Flanders, Belgium

Biography

Alfred Pilkington was born Preston, Lancashire on 10th May 1890. He was the son of William Pilkington and Anne Browne. He was baptised on 13th July 1890 at the Parish of St. Peter, Preston.^[1]

Alfred, aged 22, and his brother, Louis, departed from Liverpool on 20th September 1912 to join their father William and siblings, Fred, Harry and Mary, who were already living in Canada.^{[citation needed]} They arrived at Montreal, Quebec on 29th September 1912.^{[citation needed]}

On August 4th, 1914 Canada declared war with Germany. Alfred enlisted shortly after, being briefly assigned to 97th Algonquin Regiment^[2] and then later attached to the 15th Battalion (48th Highlanders of Canada) on September 19th, 1914. Alfred wrote in a letter to his brother, Louis, that his unit was given a choice of joining a Quebec regiment, or the Highlanders. They thought it would be better to go with those with whom they could converse more easily, so that they have to don the kilts.^[3]

On 3rd October 1914 the unit set sail from Quebec on the SS Megantic to Plymouth, England.^[4][5] It is likely that Alfred spent Christmas with his family in his hometown, as his unit were given leave for Christmas.^[4] He married Florence Adelaide Collington the day after Christmas at Emmanuel Church, Preston^[5]. They were next door neighbours before Alfred left for Canada; Alfred lived at 67 Shelley Road and Florence lived at 65 Shelley Road.^[6]

The 15th battalion arrived in France on 15 February 1915.^[4]

Sadly, Alfred died of suffocation on 25 April 1915, whilst fighting at St. Julien during the Second Battle of Ypres.^[5] It was the first mass use by Germany of poison gas on the Western Front.^[7] He was laid to rest at Poperinge Old Military Cemetery in Belgium.^[8]

Research Notes

I have a photo that might be of Alfred. If you are able to help identify or are interested in seeing it please contact me.

Sources

• "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:26D3-6JQ : 13 December 2014), Florence A Collington and null, 1914; from “England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005,” database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing 1914, quarter 4, vol. 8E, p. 913, Preston, Lancashire, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.

1. ↑ Baptism record: St Peter, Preston, Lancs, Baptisms 1870 - 1893, Page 205, Entry 1709, LDS Film 1471022
   Free access at: Lancashire Online Parish Clerks
2. ↑ New Liskeard Speaker, Friday, August 21, 1914, Farewell to Volunteers
   Available online: Canadian Great War Project
3. ↑ New Liskeard Speaker, Friday, October 02, 1914, Our Boys Heard From
   Available online: Canadian Great War Project
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} 48th Highlanders of Canada 1891-1929 by Kim Beattie
   Available online: 15th Battalion Website
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} Full military papers
   https://cgwp.uvic.ca/svcfile/?op=pdf&app=CEF&id=B7835-S007
6. ↑ *******NEED TO CITE 1911 Census
7. ↑ Wikipedia contributors. "Second Battle of Ypres." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Accessed 9 March 2018
8. ↑ Find a grave: Alfred Pilkington, ID 12728175
   https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/12728175/alfred-pilkington

Additional Sources

• https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/485529/pilkington,-alfred/
• Canadian Great War Project