Retired Landlord Shot by Sentry, 4th July 1915

Former publican William Weston Pickard was shot and killed in the early hours of 4th July 1915 after failing to respond to a sentry's challenge in Nottingham.

“SHOT BY SENTRY.

“TRAGEDY IN A NOTTINGHAM STREET.

“MAN WHO IGNORED THE CHALLENGE.

“The stem risks of wartime will be brought home to Nottingham people in all their stark grim reality by a tragedy (briefly reported in our edition of yesterday) which occurred in the Meadows district early in the morning when a man, who failed to respond to the challenge by a sentry on duty was shot, the bullet causing immediate death.

“Subsequently the dead man was identified by papers in his possession as William Weston Pickard, aged 58, of Hillside, Hilton-road, Mapperley, a well-known man who was engaged in the licensed trade in the city for many years, and has since been living in retirement. He was formerly tenant of the Crescent Inn, Ryland-crescent, Meadows, and of the Foresters’ Arms, in St. Ann's-street.

“So far as we have been able to trace the circumstances of the sad affair, it appears that the sent of the Supernumerary Company of the Sherwood Foresters were posted at five minutes to two o'clock in the morning on what is known as No. 4 post at the railway bridge in Derwent-street between Blackstone-street and Comford-street.

“One of the sentries — Private Thomas Isherwood — went down the adjacent yard to look round and see that all was right. Returning immediately afterwards, about 2.30 a.m., he saw a man coming from the direction of Derwent-street towards Conduit-street, near his (the sentry’s) post, and immediately challenged with the customary “Halt, who goes there.” It was dark and raining heavily at the time. No reply being forthcoming the sentry repeated the challenge a second and third time, and in response to the last we understand the man muttered something which Isherwood thought to be foreign language. He was carrying something under his arm, which Isherwood thought looked like a rifle, but which eventually proved to be an umbrella, and levelling his rifle, the sentry fired at the man, and the charge killed Pickard on the spot. The bullet entered the lower part of the neck, and a subsequent examination by Dr. H. O. Taylor disclosed the fact that it had splintered the top of the spine and emerged from the other side of the shoulder in two pieces.

“The corporal of the guard, hearing the report, promptly hurried to the scene, and Isherwood informed him what had happened.

“The police were also communicated with, and P.s. West arrived and had the body of Pickard conveyed to the Leen-side mortuary in the horse ambulance. A guard of the supernumerary company was called out, and Isherwood was placed under military arrest and kept at the headquarters, The Eastcroft, pending inquiries by the military authorities.

“Second-Lieut. Neilson was called to the spot about 4 a.m., and later in the morning Captain Charlton was informed of the circumstances, which he communicated to the officer commanding the district.

“Pickard, we learn, had been visiting a friend in the Meadows, whom left about 1.45 a.m., and it is assumed was proceeding home. He has been slightly deaf for some years.

“The deceased man leaves a widow and two children, one of whom is married.

“A great sensation was caused in the neighbourhood of the affair, and as the news spread through the city, the place was visited by many of the curious and the morbidly inclined.”

'Nottingham Evening Post', 5th July 1915.