WorldWar I
FallenSoldiers - RockwoodCenotaph
Page 16
FergusNews-RecordThursday, June 24, 1915: CaptainPickKilled inAction.
Monday’s rural mail brought sad news toMr. andMrs. RichardPick for it contained a telegram from
Ottawa notifying them that their son, Capt. PeterW. Pick, was killed in action inFrance on June
15th, 1915. Thenews quickly spread around townwhereCapt. Pickwaswell known, and cast a
gloom over the entire neighbourhood.
Thewar has been brought home very close to us in the deaths of Mess’rsGregsonandPick, the
only twoCanadian-born boyswho left herewith the first contingent. They didnobly, gave up their
lives for their country, andare honored by all. Capt. Pickwas born inGuelphTp. 31 years ago,
being the youngest son of Mr. andMrs. RichardPick. The family latermoved near Barrie’sChurch,
and finally to Lower Nichol, near Ennotville, where the father andmother, and one daughter,
Barbara, still reside. The only surviving son lives at Davidson, Sask.
WhenCapt. Pick enlisted hedid so as a lieutenant, andwas the first officer of the 30th to volunteer
his services. Hewas foreman in thewood-working department of BeattyBros. lower shops andwas
exceedingly popular with hismen, as hewaswith all who knew him.
Private letters fromour soldier boys at the front do not fail tomentionCapt. Pick’s bravery andhis
losswill bedeeply deplored by them also. Hewaswounded in the arm in the severe fighting at St.
Julien, but fought on, not even going to the hospital until theworst of the engagement was over. He
later returned to the trenches. After the terrible fight at Langemarck, where he distinguished himself,
hewas promoted to the captaincy. In a letter received by his parents thisweek he stated that he
had been lately on the transport service, inwhich he probablymet his death.
Capt. Pickwas amodel youngman in everyway, andhis parents have the sincere sympathy of a
very large number of friends in this locality, in their sudden bereavement.
FergusNews-RecordThursday, July 1, 1915:MEMORIALSERVICE
Thememorial service last Sunday afternoon for Capt. Peter Pick, killed in action inFrance, held
at the home of his parents, Mr. andMrs. RichardPick at Ennotville, will not soon be forgottenby
the large number present. Shortly after dinner vehicles of all kinds left town for Capt. Pick’s former
home, several of them containingmany of the employees of BeattyBros.Workswhere theCaptain
was engagedas foremanat the lower factory, at the time he enlisted, and inwhose hearts he ever
heldawarm place.
Rev. J.A. Brown opened the servicewith prayer, after whichRev. R.W. Crawmade the address,
speaking in the highest terms of thebravery of Capt. Pick, of the clean life he lived, of his untiring
devotion to duty, and finally the laying down of his life for King andCountry, in aworthy cause. He
appealed to the youngmen of the vicinity to volunteer to fill the vacancy caused by the death of
Capt. Pick. Rev. Mr. Kaye of BarrieHill church read the scripture. It was at this church that the late
Capt. Pickwhenbut 14 years of agehad taken communion and becameone of itsmembers.When
16 years oldhe joined the 30th regiment, and gradually rose until he becameCaptain.
Much sympathy is expressed for the aged parents and particularly forMrs. Pick at this time as on
Friday last she had themisfortune to stumble and break her leg.
