Picken, Paul Hartley

2nd Lieutenant Paul Hartley Picken

was born at Oldcastle on 20th March 1894 to Edward Picken (Draper) and Frances Margaret Picken nee Hartley. They had married on 12th April 1871 at Oldcastle Church of Ireland.

In 1901 Paul (7) was living in house 124, Oldcastle, Oldcastle, Co. Meath with his parents and 5 siblings; Helen (23), Catherine (19), James (16), Edward (14) and Frederick (11). An assistant dress-maker, Mary E McStravick and 2 servants; Bridget Galligan and John Carolan were also present in the house. 

In 1911 Paul was living in house 108, Oldcastle, Oldcastle, Co. Meath with his father and 3 siblings, Catherine, James, Frederick. Others in the property are Mary Duncan and her 3 children; William, Frederick and Katherine; Edith Neill (milliner), Lucy Scott (apprentice) and Elizabeth Briordy (servant). Paul's occupation is described as a Bank Clerk.  

Paul would have joined the Belfast Banking Company around 1911 and is recorded as working in Enniskillen and Markets branches. His father signed the Bankers Guarantee. It was later signed by a Nicholas Barker

Belfast Bank - Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

Belfast Bank, Enniskillen branch

Belfast Bank, Markets branch

Paul volunteered and enlisted into the 12th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. He was later commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. His first theatre of war is recorded as France from 4th March 1917.

P H Picken - Medal Index Card

The Belfast Banking Company 'Roll of Honour' booklet records Picken as having been 'previously  wounded' with his last known address 'in France'.

Belfast Bank 'Roll of Honour' Booklet

As an officer Paul had to apply for his war service medals. He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

P H Picken - Medal Roll

Following his demobilisation after the war, Paul re-joined the bank. The Ballymena Observer of 3rd June 1921 reports that he was elected a member of Ballymena Golf Club.

Paul was later transferred to Magherafelt branch and in 1926 to Londonderry branch.

Belfast Bank, Magherafelt branch

Belfast Bank, Londonderry branch

In December 1926 he is recorded as arriving in Canada. The Belfast News-Letter of 14th January 1927 reports the resignation of Paul from the bank.

The Belfast Telegraph of 13th November 1943 reports that Lt P H Picken, late Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers has relinquished the rank of Lieutenant on enlistment into the ranks of the Canadian military forces. His headstone, below records his final rank as Warrant Officer Class 2 (WO2).

John Eadie, a descendant of Picken has provided the following additional information:

Via Ancestry.com

"Hi!  Paul Hartley Picken married my great aunt Louie Kells (aged 17 in 1911) in Oldcastle, Co. Meath, Ireland and resided in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada for many years, working as an Accountant. He died on the 21st June 1970 in Deer Lodge Hospital, in Winnipeg and is buried in Brookside Cemetery in Winnipeg in a military grave."

John Eadie (cjeadie@shaw.ca)

P H Picken - Headstone