Corporal Arthur A Picken

Corporal Arthur Alfred Picken was born on 7 December 1910 in Sparkhill, Birmingham, England. Arthur was a son of Robert Alfred Picken and his wife Gertrude Louisa Picken (nee Lloyd). Arthur's mother died the day before Arthur's 11th birthday, and his father 9 years later in 1930.

Arthur enlisted on 19 January 1933 into the 13th Field Battery, Royal Regiment of Artillery, at Litchfield, as a Gunner. He was also a qualified Signalman. In January 1936, he was transferred to the Army Reserve, stationed at Woolwich. Whilst at Woolwich he met and married Patricia Emma Morrish, on 6 June 1936. A son, Robert, was born on 14 April 1938.

Between 1939 and 1942, Arthur was at the School of Artillery, Larkhill, before he joined the newly formed Airborne Forces, as part of the 3rd Parachute Battalion. He left for North Africa on 8 November 1942. 

Corporal Arthur Picken was killed on 11 March 1943, aged 32 years old. He is now buried in Tabarka Raj Rajel War Cemetery, Tunisia.