PETTINGER, Alf [of Worksop]

Alf Pettinger in the Borough of Worksop Roll of Honour of the Great War 1914 - 1918, published by Sissons and Son Ltd.

Picture the Past

Worksop Guardian 29 October 1915 

At the call of King and country, the young men of the northern end of the town – particularly in the Trent Street district – nobly answered the appeal. Shoulder to shoulder, man to man, they have fought side by side to maintain the principles of freedom and honour. But alas, the price of victory is very great, and this week it is our duty – a duty mingled with pride and yet with sorrow – to chronicle the death of another Worksop lad who had fought the “good fight”. It is Pte. Alf Pettinger of the 8th Battalion of the Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Territorials), son of Mr and Mrs Francis Pettinger, of John Street, Worksop and husband of Mrs Pettinger, 5 Trent Street, Worksop. We have been in receipt of the distressing news for some days, but although not doubting its accuracy, declined to publish it until the arrival of more details, in the hope that the information was incorrect. Such intelligence has now been furnished and the relatives of the gallant soldier fear the worst has happened – that he has filled a soldier’s grave in Flanders. Pte Pettinger was a ‘batman’ to Sert-Major Tom Powell of Eastgate, Worksop, who after a short leave from the trenches returned on Monday. He gave details of Alfred’s death to the relatives. Poor Alf was killed in a bayonet charge. Corroborative evidence has been given by a couple of Worksop soldiers. Pte Pettinger, who had been at the front for over nine months recently, spent a few days at home. The news of his death will be the means of many expressions of heartfelt sympathy with the relatives in this their hour of trial – all the more sincere, in as much as he leaves a widow and two young children.

The Borough of Worksop Roll of Honour of the Great War 1914 - 1918 can be viewed at Worksop Library.