Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of James Pykett, an agricultural labourer, born 1st March 1853 in Exton, Rutland and his wife Eliza Pykett (nee Downs, married on the 18th November 1875 in St. Andrew’s Church, Collyweston, Northamptonshire), born 1847 in Barnack, Northamptonshire. James, a schoolboy, was born on the 29th December 1884, his siblings were, George, a schoolboy, born 22nd November 1878, Amelia, a schoolgirl, born 1880, Charles Samuel, a schoolboy, born 20th March 1883 and Frank, born 14th January 1890, all his siblings were born in Ayston, in April 1891 the family home was at Ayston, Rutland. In March 1901 James was employed as a grocer’s porter, and was residing in the family home at Ayston, Rutland, together with his father, a farm wagoner, his mother and siblings, George, a farm wagoner, Charles, a tailor’s assistant, Frank, a schoolboy and Betsy, a schoolgirl, born 16th August 1892 in Ayston. In April 1911 James was employed as a farm stableman and was residing in the family home at Ayston, together with his father, a farm horseman, his mother and siblings, Mary Ann, born 1st March 1877 in Ayston, Frank, a domestic gardener and Betsy a domestic housemaid. James also had an older sister, Lois, born 27th November 1875 in Ayston and who died in March 1916 in Uppingham, Rutland. His mother died on the 9th May 1919 and his father died on the 20th November 1925, they both died in Ayston. His younger brother Frank was killed in action on the 8th October 1918.
James enlisted/attested into the Regular Army on the 10th December 1915 in Uppingham, and was allotted the service number 25910. He gave his age as 30 years 18 days. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as yardman. He gave his present address as Ayston, Uppingham, Rutland.
His medical examination recorded his apparent age as 30 years 18 days, that he was 5-feet 3 inches in height and he had a chest measurement of between 33½ and 36 inches. He gave his religion as Church of England.
He gave his next of kin as his father, James Pykett, Ayston, Uppingham, Rutland.
During his period of military service, the following events of note occurred: -
Attested. 10/12/15.
To Army Reserve. 11/12/15.
Mobilized. 1/3/16.
Posted. To Depot, Leicestershire Regt. 1/3/16.
Posted. To 3rd Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 5/3/16.
Embarked. Folkestone. 17/8/16.
Posted. To 12th Infantry Base Depot. 18/8/16.
Joined. 12th Infantry Brigade Depot, Calais. 18/8/16.
Posted. To 6th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. 18/8/16.
Posted. To 9th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. 7/9/16.
Joined. 9th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. In the Field. 9/9/16.
Admitted. To 65th Field Ambulance, sprained knee. In the Field. 28/10/16.
Transferred. To Hospital. 28/10/16.
Admitted. To 1st Corps Rest Station. 30/10/16.
Re-joined. 9th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. In the Field. 24/11/16.
Awarded. 7 days Field Punishment No.2. For “Absent off Parade.” In the Field. 28/2/17.
Admitted. To 64th Field Ambulance, abscess on neck. In the Field. 19/5/17.
Transferred. To 21st Divisional Rest Station. In the Field. 19/5/17.
Discharged. To Unit. In the Field. 21/5/17.
Discharged. To Unit. In the Field. 6/6/17.
Re-joined. 9th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. In the Field. 6/6/17.
To Hospital, boils on neck. In the Field. 20/7/17.
Admitted. To 64th Field Ambulance. In the Field. 20/7/17.
Transferred. To 21st Divisional Rest Station. In the Field. 22/7/17.
Returned. To duty. In the Field. -?-.
To Hospital. In the Field. 31/8/17.
Admitted. To 63rd Field Ambulance. In the Field. 31/8/17.
Admitted. To 21st Divisional Rest Station, carbuncles. In the Field. 31/8/17.
Admitted. To 6th General Hospital. 1/9/17.
Transferred. To 59th Corps Rest Station. -?-.
Transferred. To 9th Infantry Brigade Depot. -?-.
Transferred. To 12th Infantry Brigade Depot. -?-
Re-joined. 9th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. In the Field. 18/11/17.
Admitted. To 42nd Casualty Clearing Station. In the Field. 23/11/17.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 1/3/16 – 17/8/16. 170 days
B.E.F., France. 18/8/16 – 23/11/17. 1 year 98 days.
Total Service. 1 year 268 days.
He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
SERVICE RECORD NOTE: In September 1940, as the result of a fire caused by an incendiary bomb at the War Office Record Store in Arnside Street, London, approximately two thirds of 6.5 million soldiers’ documents for the First World War were destroyed. Those records which survived were mostly charred or water damaged and unfit for consultation and became known as the “burnt documents.” As a consequence, the content and condition of the surviving records can range from good to extremely poor. The hand written information is, in some instances barely legible, and the number of pages that should comprise a full record, in some cases are either badly damaged or missing entirely, however where possible the available information has been transcribed so that it may at least offer the reader a little descriptive insight into some, if not all of the events and background information surrounding the period of service.
Before the war James had been employed as a yardman. After enlistment he embarked for France where he saw active service, being wounded and subsequently dying in hospital. In a letter of sympathy to his mother, the Army Chaplain wrote: - “We can only say that God’s will is best, for, had he lived, his life must have been one of great suffering. He was unconscious when I saw him, and the end came quite peacefully…….It is indeed a sad time for all at home when they hear that those they love have been called upon to make the great sacrifice.”
The War Diary records: 22 Nov-17 - BILLETS, HERSIN. “A” Company were shelled in billets by large calibre high velocity guns, getting a direct hit on the billet (THE NUNNERY). Casualties 7 killed and 24 wounded (3 of the latter died of wounds at the Casualty Clearing Station.
The War Diary records: 23 Nov-17 - BILLETS, HERSIN. Four of the men killed were buried with full Military Honours. Battalion marched to new billets at BARLIN.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Pte. James Pykett 9th Leicestershire Regt. son of Mr and Mrs James Pykett of Ayston, was born there on 29th Dec. 1884, and was a yardman.He enlisted on 1st March 1916 and saw active service in France until his death in hospital from wounds on 23rd Nov. 1917. He is buried at Aubigny. In a letter of sympathy to Mrs Pykett an Army chaplain wrote:-“We can only say that God’s will is best, for had he lived, his life must have been one of great suffering. He was unconscious when I saw him, and the end came quite peacefully. It is indeed a sad time for all at home when they hear that those they love have been called to make the great sacrifice.”

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Submitted by C. Beadman 2011