Trafford

Born during the December quarter 1894 in the Altrincham R.D. - ref: 8a/199,
the only son of Robert Leigh & Amy Pickering (nee Walker).

1901 Census - St. John's Road, Knutsford, Cheshire.   Son - aged: 6 - born:
Knutsford.    Head of household - Robert L. Pickering - Married - aged: 32
- occ: Export Merchant - born: Salford.   Also - Amy Pickering - Wife -
aged: 29 - born: Altrincham.   Plus 1 younger sister and 2 domestic
servants.

1911 Census - Bramley, Knutsford, Cheshire.   Son - aged: 16 - Scholar -
born: Knutsford.   Head of household - Robert L. Pickering - Married -
aged: 42 - occ: Shipping Merchant - born: Salford.   Also - Amy Pickering -
Wife - aged: 39 - born: Altrincham.   Plus 1 younger sister and 2 domestic
servants.

MIC - states that he originally served in the 6th Bn. Cheshire Rgt before
transferring to the Royal Flying Corps.   Originally a 2nd Lieutenant with
the Cheshire Rgt, later promoted to Captain.  Posted to Mesopotamia on the
30th December 1916.  Awarded the BWM & the VM.  His father - Robert L
Pickering of 42 Sackville Street, Manchester applied for his medals on
17/08/1921.

2nd Lt H W Craig was flying as observer in BE 2c 4149 of No 30 Sqn RFC,
flown by 2nd Lt Charles Leigh Pickering (formerly 6th Bn, Cheshire
Regiment), when both airmen were killed in action in Mesopotamia on 15
April 1917. The airmen were on a reconnaissance mission over Basra when
they were shot down near Samara.  Hauptmann Hans Schüz from FA 2 was
credited with a victory; it was the 8th of his eventual 10.  The German
pilot conducted the burial of the two downed airmen.