| His name - Fred Piggin - was inscribed on the album page that originally held this cabinet photograph. Unfortunately no other information was written down which could have helped to determine to which regiment this very young looking soldier belonged. He is fully outfitted for the field and one can assume the photo was taken prior to his departure for South Africa during the Boer War. This photo was once part of a pair of almost identical images. Both by the same photographer the other image showed a H. Piggin in the same outdoor location and in the same type of uniform. H. Piggin looked to be of very similar age and one can only assume that the two young men were brothers. Update: New information regarding Fred Piggin has recently been uncovered. Frederic(k) W. Piggin was born around 1877 in Long Eaton, Derbyshire, the son of Richard S. and Mary A. Piggin. The elder Piggin was a butcher and farmer of some 60 acres in and around Long Eaton. The above mentioned H. Piggin was his younger brother Henry A. Piggin who was born about 1880 also in Long Eaton. Both brothers served in South Africa during the Anglo-Boer War. I have found a ship's manifest for the R.M.S. Kildonan Castle that lists Mr. F.W. Piggin age 24 and Mr. H. Piggin age 21 returing to England from South Africa in 1902. Both men are listed as members of the "Col. Defce. Force". No specifics on the details of these two brothers Boer War service has come to light as of yet. They both may have served as troopers in the 12th Company, 3rd Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry. Frederic William Piggin is mentioned in the as being a butcher by trade in the September 13, 1910 edition of the London Gazette He is mentioned as having a business at 24 High Street in Long Eaton while living in Hall Croft, Beeston, Nottingham. The two Piggin brothers seem to show up again during World War I as members of Notts Yeomanry, T.F. (South Notts Hussars). Henry Arthur Piggin is shown as a 2nd lieutenant of the Nott's Yeomanry, then a Lieutenant in the 1st North Midland Field Ambulance and finally as a captain in the Army Remount Service. His theater of operations is shown as France on his medal index card. The above pictured Frederic William Piggin seems to have stayed in the 1/1st South Nottinghamshire Hussars (Yeomanry) during his entire World War I service. Serving in Salonica, Egypt and Palestine he rose to the rank of captain and was awarded the Military Cross for actions mentioned in the 5 July, 1918 edition of the London Gazette: "Lt. [acting captain] Frederick William Piggin, Yeo. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He was in command of the leading squadron in an action, and led his men with great skill. He advanced rapidly over very difficult country, driving back a superior force of the enemy. He cut the enemy's line of retreat, capturing two field guns and some prisoners" Frederic Piggin drowned while on active service possibly in Egypt (his unit was transferred there from Salonika in June of 1917 and remained there as part of the Desert Mounted Corps until April 1918) on 27 May, 1918. Additional information regarding Frederick Piggin and his death during World War I has been kindly provided by Mr. Jean-Baptiste Piggin of Hamburg. F. Piggin was drowned when the troop transport ship Leasowe Castle was torpedoed off Alexandria, Egypt on 27 May, 1918 with a loss of 83 men, officers and other ranks. His name is listed on the Chatby Memeorial which is located in Chatby War Memorial Cemetery, Alexnadria. Based on this it is assumed that Piggin's body was lost at sea during the sinking. A wealth of information on the extended Piggin familiy can be found at Mr. Mr. Jean-Baptiste's website: http://www.piggin.org/index.htm Squadron-Sergeant-Major, South Nottinghamshire Hussars - 1914 Second Lieutenant - 27 November, 1914 Temporary Lieutenant - 12 November 1915 Temporary Captain - 1 August, 1916 Lieutenant & Temporary Captain - 24th July, 1917 Acting Captain (commanding Yeo. Squadron) - 15 December, 1917 Lieutenant - 4th February, 1918 Gazetted for the Military Cross - 4th February, 1918 Drowned - 27 May, 1918 Cabinet Photograph Berl Storer - Photographer Long Eaton, Derbyshire, England c. 1900 |
