Lives of the First World War

The four Pickup Brothers from Whitworth who served and survived the Great War. James and Arthur served in the Lancashire Fusiliers, James later transferring to the North Staffs. Twin brothers John and Ashworth enlisted in the Lancashire Fusiliers but served in the King's Liverpool Regiment. James was gassed on 12 July 1917 and hospitalised back to Britain to Sussex as reported in "The Rochdale Observer" on 18 August. He returned to serve in France in 1918 but within a fortnight of his return was taken prisoner. He had been missing since 17 April then family heard in June 1918 that he was a POW in Limburg, Germany. Ashworth was taken prisoner around October 1918 and was also in Germany. John was wounded twice within a few months in 1918 and was later awarded the Silver War Badge. Arthur served in Salonica with the Lancashire Fusiliers. Their father was Ashworth Pickup who had farmed at Hudclough Farm, Facit (where Arthur and the twins were born) then Houses o'th'Hill before buying houses in William Street, Whitworth in 1914. The family lived at 1 William Street, the remaining houses being rented out. Arthur and Ashworth became dairymen and had milk rounds in Northwich, Cheshire and Kirkham, Lancashire respectively. James and John remained in Whitworth working as carters. Arthur also returned to Whitworth in his later years. James died in 1949, Ashworth in 1950, Arthur in 1968 and John in 1976. The information attached to these life stories is from family held documents, newspaper reports and official documents

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