LANCE-CORPORAL MAURICE HENRY PICKETT, DESPATCH RIDER, R.E. DIED AT HARWICH MILITARY HOSPITAL, FEBRUARY 14TH, 1917. AGED 21. At the School 1911—14 (Day Boy). Maurice Henry Pickett was the fourth son of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Pickett, of Penrhyn. Upper Grosvenor Road, Tunbridge Wells. His eldest brother, E. K. Pickett (D.B. 1906—9), is in the Home Civil Service and was never able to obtain permission to serve. His cousin. Temporary Capt. L. E. Pickett, K.A.M.C. (D.B. 1905—8) was invalided home from Beaumont Hamel suffering from shell-shock in September, 1916, and subsequently served from May, 1917, to April, 1919, first at Salonika and then in German East Africa. Entering the School in September, 1911, M. H. Pickett left from the Army Class in July, 1914. Unfortunately, owing to a severe attack of appendicitis and a critical operation early in his School career, he was debarred from strenuous exercise at School and was still unfit for service when war broke out. He was accordingly articled to his brother, Mr. E. J. Pickett, a Dental Surgeon, at Dovercourt. It was a bitter disappointment to him that he was compelled to give up the idea of joining the Army and, whilst his friends were serving, be content to assist his brother in his work amongst the soldiers of the garrison. At last, his health having improved, he was passed into Group B 1, and on October 10th, 1916, joined the Despatch Riders, R.E., stationed at Harwich. He was soon promoted Lance-Corporal, but was not destined to serve for long or to go to the Front, for on Sunday, February 11th, his old trouble recurred. An operation became necessary and was performed, but he died on the following Wednesday. He was buried at Tunbridge Wells on February 17th, his body being escorted from the Military Hospital to Harwich Station. Two of his section who were present at the funeral told of his popularity with his comrades, whilst the officer who wrote notifying the family of his death testified to his efficiency and keenness.