Lieutenant John Oscar Pilkington

• Age: 25
• From: Maghull
• Regiment: Royal Flying Corps
• Died on Thursday 6th September 1917
• Commemorated at: Bailleul Cc Etn
  Panel Ref: III.E.202

John Oscar was born on 18th August 1892 at Maghull the son of John Arthur Pilkington and his wife Sarah (nee Handley) who were married in Bury in the 3rd quarter of 1888. 

The 1901 Census shows the family are living at Bank House, Green Lane, Maghull. His father, John Arthur, is shown as having been born in Bury in 1856 and his employment is shown to be a General Manager and Secretary of Pearl and General Warehousing Company. His mother Sarah was also born in Bury in 1858. John Oscar is 8 years of age and has 3 siblings: Edward Geoffrey b.1890 at Seacombe, Cheshire, Norah b.1891 at Maghull and Beatrice Sarah also born at Mghull in 1898. Also listed in the household are a Governess, a Cook, a Waitress and a Housemaid.

By 1911 the family has moved to Wynfield, Speakmans Lane (now Flax Lane) Lathom. His mother is now widowed and shown to be living on Private Means. John Oscar is a student aged 18 whilst his sisters Norah and Beatrice Sarah are still living at home. Also present are Sarah's mother Helen Elizabeth Handley and her sister Elizabeth. There is a Cook and a Housemaid also declared.

Prior to the War, John Oscar was studying to be an electrical engineer.  

He joined the 19th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment in September 1914 as Private 21425. He was transferred and served as 2nd Lieutenant in 1915 and saw service in Egypt before transferring to the Royal Flying Corps. He was gazetted as Lieutenant in June 1916.

He was killed in action aged 25 on the 06/09/1917 flying with 20 Squadron in Aircraft FE2d Serial No. B1895. John Oscar was flying the aircraft and Herbert Frederick Matthews was the observer. The aircraft left the aerodrome at Ste. Marie Cappel on an offensive patrol at 14.35. It was flying over Boesinghe when it was shot down. Werner Voss a German flying Ace claimed the victory at 15.35. It was the 42nd of his 48 recorded victories. Voss was himself killed in action before the month of September was out. He was killed on 23rd Septemer 1917. He was buried by the British in a shell crater near to Plum Farm. The grave location was recorded but the grave was subsequently lost and Voss is now remembered at Langemark German War Cemetry.

John Oscar now rests at Bailleul Communal Cemetery, France at III.E.202. Herbert Frederick Matthews who was killed alongisde him rests next to him at III.E.201.   

Bailleul was occupied on 14 October 1914 by the 19th Brigade and the 4th Division. It became an important railhead, air depot and hospital centre, with the 2nd, 3rd, 8th, 11th, 53rd, 1st Canadian and 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Stations quartered in it for considerable periods. It was a Corps headquarters until July 1917, when it was severely bombed and shelled, and after the Battle of Bailleul (13-15 April 1918), it fell into German hands and was not retaken until 30 August 1918.

The earliest Commonwealth burials at Bailleul were made at the east end of the communal cemetery and in April 1915, when the space available had been filled, the extension was opened on the east side of the cemetery. The extension was used until April 1918, and again in September, and after the Armistice graves were brought in from the neighbouring battlefields.

BAILLEUL COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION contains 4,403 Commonwealth burials of the First World War; 11 of the graves made in April 1918 were destroyed by shell fire and are represented by special memorials. There are also 17 British burials of the Second World War (all 1940) and 154 German burials from both wars (10 of which are Second World War).

During the Second World War the cemetery suffered major bomb damage that necessitated the replacement of nearly 200 headstones after the war.

Both the Commonwealth plot in the communal cemetery and the extension were designed by Sir Herbert Baker.

 

He is commemorated on the following Memorials:

Ormskirk  War Memorial

King William's College Book of Remembrance Isle of Man

King William's College Memorial Isle of Man

Manx National Memorial.

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