DRAFT

Percy Ackerman Pickard was born on 25 May 1894 in Swansea. He was the son of Sarah Ann Pickard.

In the 1901 census, Percy is shown living with widowed mother and brother Frederick at 17 James Street, Swansea.

By 1911, Frederick had moved out and Percy, aged 16, was still living in James Street with his mother. He had also started work as a shoemakers apprentice.

Percy joined the Welsh Howitzers on 7 June 1915 and shortly after married Elsie Pearson in Swansea. After he joined the army, he would have seen little of Elsie, his mother or Swansea until after the war.

Percy and Elsie welcomed their first child Betty Jean on 21 March 1916. On the baptism record, Elsie gave Percy’s occupation as soldier and their address as 17 James Street.

It is likely that Percy finally returned home to Elsie in March/April 1919 and soon after their second child was born. Roy Ackerman was born 29 March 1920 whilst the family was living at 2 Edgware Road. In the Parish Register, Percy gave his occupation as a Bus Conductor.

His grand-son added; In later life he worked for South Wales Transport, the bus company in the Swansea area, and was an inspector of the famous, but long gone Mumbles Railway. A photo of Percy in his conductors uniform is in the image gallery.

In 1956. Percy lost his wife Elsie, but remarried 10 years later in 1966. His second wife was Margaret E Davies.

Percy Ackerman Pickard passed away at the age of 80 on 1 May 1975 at 25 Bond St, Swansea.

DRAFT

Percy Ackerman Pickard joined the 1st Welsh (Howitzer) Brigade as a Driver on 7 June 1915. He was given the Brigade service number of 1410.

Unfortunately, his Service Record was destroyed during the Blitz and there is little other surviving information. However, it is still possible to provide an overview of what it is likely that he did during the War.

After enlisting, Dvr P.A. Ackerman would have undertaken basic training at the Brigade Depot in Swansea, where he would have focused on fitness, drill and theory because weapons and uniforms were still in short supply.

No other records of Percy’s service have survived, however his grand-son added; I understand that Percy served in Palestine.

This being the case, it is likely that Percy travelled to Egypt with the 53rd Division Artillery in 1916 and served with the 1st Welsh Howitzers or 53 Divisional Ammunition Column (DAC).

It is reasonable to think that he was involved with the defence of the Suez Canal in the summer of 1916, march across the Sinai Desert at the end of that year, culminating in the 2 unsuccessful Battle of Gaza in early 1917. After a change in leadership, the Allied Army finally took Gaza in November 1917 and Jerusalem shortly after.

After a period of rest, the army continued to advance through Palestine and the Judaen Hills until the Armistice with the Turkish Army at the end of October 1918.

After the armistice, the 53rd Division returned to Alexandria for a victory parage in December 1918 and then started to return home. Most men were demobilized in March/April 1919.

For his service in the Great War, Driver P.A. Ackerman was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.