Private Wilfred Charles Pitman (1891-1945) was already in the 8th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment (No 1125) at the outbreak of War. He had enlisted for six years in this Territorial Battalion in November 1909, aged 17 years 11 months, but in the 1911 census this was not recorded, as his job was given as a farm labourer. He was living on the night of the census with his parents, James and Alice Pitman, and siblings at 6 Longdon Hill, Wickhamford; this included his older brother, John Thomas Pitman, who also served during the war. Wilfred had been born at Aston Somerville, but the family moved to Wickhamford in the mid 1890s.
His record (surname spelt ‘Pittman’) states that he was on Home Service from 18th November 1909 until 17th November 1915. At a Military Tribunal in Evesham in 1916 it was stated that when in the Territorials he had refused to volunteer for foreign service. This was acceptable for a man in a Territorial Battalion, but following the Tribunal decision, he enlisted as a gunner in the Royal Field Artillery (No 199614) and saw service in Egypt. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals (surname spelt ‘Pitman’).
Wilfred married Florence Rose West in 1913 at Wickhamford. They had two daughters, one of whom, Hilda Elsie Pitman, whilst a pupil at Badsey Council School, wrote a letter in 1933 describing her father’s life as a market gardener.
We are grateful to Wendy McWilliams (Wilfred's granddaughter) for allowing us to publish a copy of his photograph.