Pettigrew, Gilbert Thomas Richardson

Age: 24
Date of birth: 14th September 1892

Parents: William and Emma Pettigrew
Wife: Alice Frances Pettigrew (nee Boswell)
Address: 17 Wharf Street

Occupation: Journalist with The Warwick Advertiser

In 1901 Gilbert was living at 99 Saltisford with his parents, William and Emma, and elder brother and sister, Caroline and William.

By 1911, his brother and sister had left home and Gilbert completed the census on his father’s behalf, as William Senior was now 81 years old

On leaving school, Gilbert had trained as a journalist with the Warwick Advertiser.  At some point he emigrated to Canada and worked for two leading newspapers there before becoming Private Secretary to the Minister of Public Works for Manitoba.

He returned to England in June 1914 and worked briefly before enlisting.

Gilbert’s funeral was covered by the Warwick Advertiser on the 18th August 1917.  It took place St Mary’s Church and afterwards at the home of his brother in law, Mr Stocker, who lived in Cape Road:

This item was also placed in the Warwick Advertiser on the same day, presumably by his family – he left a widow and small child and was remembered two years later in the second piece in 1918:

 

Military Service

Rank & Number: Second Lieutenant, 1225
Regiment/Service: Royal Flying Corps
Brigade/Division:
Date of death: Sunday, August 12, 1917
Cause of death/Battle: Killed in a flying accident in Wiltshire
Commemorated/Buried: Warwick Cemetery - 52 C 34
Awards: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Commemorated locally at: All Saints Church

Gilbert served in the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry and 1st Battalion, Herefordshire Regiment.  He was severely wounded and returned home.

After recuperation, he joined the Royal Flying Corps and was killed in a flying accident in Wiltshire.

Contributors

  • Unlocking Warwick Research Group
  • Gary Stocker – second great nephew
  • Warwick Advertiser excerpts courtesy of Warwick County Record Office

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