Early Life and Family Background

Arthur Roy Pickin was born on Monday 7^th May 1923 at No. 1 Gilberthorpe Street, Rotherham, Yorkshire. He was the elder son of Major (ret’d) Arthur Pickin DFC¹, a haulage contractor, and his wife Doris Pickin (née Taylor), whom he married in 1922. Roy’s younger brother, John Robert Pickin, OBE (1927–2001), also attended Wrekin College (Saxon) between 1940 and 1945.

Childhood and Education

Both Roy and his brother began their education at Emscote Lawn Preparatory School in Warwick². At that time, the family had relocated to Kenilworth before eventually settling at Comberford Hall, near Tamworth, Staffordshire. During the Second World War, Roy’s father was in command of the local Home Guard detachment while his mother, Doris, contributed to the war effort by running a soldiers’ canteen in Tamworth.

School Years at Wrekin

During his years at Wrekin College from 1937 to 1941, Roy was active in sports, particularly cricket and rugby. He played cricket for Saxon House [J.S. Kerr, BA] as well as for the school, starting in the Colts/U16 team and progressing through the 3rd, 2nd, and 1st Eleven cricket teams. In rugby, he represented the school in both the 2nd and 1st XV teams.

Military Service

World War II: Service in the Gurkha Rifles

Upon leaving school in 1941, Roy joined the 1^st Battalion, King George V's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Malaun Regiment) as a private soldier. He was soon deployed to the Far East, where he spent the entirety of the Second World War. Recognised as officer material, he was awarded a temporary war commission on Sunday 3^rd October 1943.

Burma Campaign

In Burma, Roy and his regiment faced intense attacks from Japanese forces, who had begun their offensive in December 1941. He participated in the retreat to India, which began in February 1942. The regiment was engaged in heavy fighting again in 1944 during the Arakan campaign and the Japanese offensive against north-east India, notably at the battles of Kohima and Imphal from March to June 1944. Imphal was besieged by the Japanese until the Allied victory at Kohima in June, after which the Japanese retreated into Burma. The regiment subsequently joined the successful Allied advance into Burma, and on Thursday 3^rd May 1945, British forces liberated Rangoon. Although Japanese forces remained in Burma, the conflict had become largely a mopping-up operation.

Post-War Army Career

Before Indian Independence in 1947, an agreement between the governments of Nepal, Great Britain, and the incoming Indian administration determined the future of the Gurkha battalions. As Roy’s regiment was to become part of the new Indian Army, all British officers wishing to continue their service were reassigned. Roy was transferred to the 1^st Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment - then stationed in the Far East - as a substantive First Lieutenant with back-dated seniority.

Return Home and Engagement

In Spring 1947, Roy returned home on leave, during which time he became engaged to Eileen Margaret Pendle [1924-2012], the sister of James Pendle OBE,JP (S.1941–45) and aunt to Christopher Pendle (S.1966–71) and Martin Pendle (S.1971–76).

The Malayan Emergency

Following the outbreak of hostilities in Malaya on Tuesday 17^th June 1948, Roy  - now a Captain, with considerable experience in the Far East - was transferred to the 2^nd Battalion, 7^th Gurkha Rifles. This unit was among those tasked with combating the communist pro-independence fighters of the Malayan National Liberation Army (MNLA).

Final Engagement and Legacy

On Friday 18^th July 1948, during a confrontation with MNLA forces at Bidor, approximately 40 miles south of Ipoh, Roy was fatally wounded in an exchange of automatic fire. He was 25 years old. His body was recovered after the battle and later buried at Batu Gajah Christian Cemetery, Ipoh, Perak, Malaya (now Malaysia). Roy had the unfortunate distinction of being the first British Army officer to be killed during the Malayan Emergency of 1948–60. 

Eileen Pendle went on to marry John de Haan in 1950.

Kayar hunu bhanda marnu ramro

Arthur is also commemorated by name on the Armed Forces Memorial located within the 150-acre National Memorial Arboretum³ in Staffordshire.

Medallic Recognition: 1939-45 Star, Burma Star, Defence Medal [1939-45], War Medal [1939-45], General Service Medal with ‘Malaya’ clasp

1. Arthur Pickin served with the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross [DFC] for service in France.
2. Emscote Lawn Prep School, Warwick closed in 1999.
3. The estate will become the Royal British Legion National Remembrance Gardens in September 2026, following a full integration with their parent charity, the Royal British Legion (RBL).

The Elizabeth Cross

Background and Purpose

The Elizabeth Cross is a national award that recognises the profound loss and sacrifice endured by the families of service personnel who have lost their lives while serving on operations in the line of duty, or as a result of acts of terrorism.

Historical Context

Introduced in 2009, the Elizabeth Cross is named after Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Its creation marked the first occasion since the institution of the George Cross in 1940 by King George VI that a reigning monarch had given their name to a new award. Prior to this, the Victoria Cross had been established by Queen Victoria in 1856 to recognise acts of gallantry by members of the Armed Forces.

Eligibility

The Elizabeth Cross is available to the families of military personnel who died in conflicts dating back to 1948. Eligible conflicts include the Korean War, the Malayan Emergency, the Falklands conflict, operations in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, as well as more recent engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Award Details

Recipients receive two sterling silver emblems: a full-size version for formal Remembrance events, and a miniature version suitable for less formal occasions. The name of the individual in whose memory the cross is awarded is engraved on the reverse. In addition to the emblems, a memorial scroll is also presented to the family.

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