On The Roll of Honour
Arthur was born in Badwell Ash about January 1895 to Arthur (b.1863 d.1922) and Sarah née Wilding (b.1867).
1901 census: Arthur was aged 6, a scholar, living in Daisy Green, Ashfield Magna (Great Ashfield) with his father Arthur, a road labourer aged 38, his mother, Sarah aged 34 and his 6 siblings, Emma, aged 14 May aged 13, Lily aged 11, Ethel aged 9, Charles aged 4 and Daisy aged 1.
1911 census: Arthur, was now aged 16, a farm labourer (described in the Army Records as being a Threshing Machine Hand) and is living in Wyverstone Road, Badwell Ash with his father Arthur, a farm labourer aged 48, his mother, Sarah aged 44 and his 5 siblings, Charles, aged 14, (who also enlisted) Daisy Maria aged 11, Bertram aged 9, Elsie aged 6 and Ellen Mabel aged 11 months. That means that Harry and Sarah had a total of 9 children in 24 years.
Military and War: According to Arthur’s Service Record he enlisted as a Private in the 10th Reserve Battalion Suffolk Regiment; 2/6th Essex Regiment; 501 Agricultural Company Labour Corps; Regimental No.455938.
Arthur enlisted on the 19th February 1916 aged 21 years and 4 months and was posted to the Labour Corps. He was discharged on the 6th March 1919 having seen no overseas service as a result of defective sight in his left eye. During his service he was reprimanded for being absent without leave (AWOL) for 2 days and was fined 3 days’ pay in August 1918. As he had not been on active service he was not awarded any medals.
Post War: Arthur married Ida Rowland, aged 25 in Hazlewood, Derbyshire on 7th May 1921. She was born in Ireton Wood, Derbyshire in 1896 and died on 27th May 1963.
In the 1939 Register Arthur is aged 45 and is described as a “Stoker Builders Yard” and living with Ida, now aged 42 in 65 Stepping Lane, Derby.
Arthur died in Derby on 25th January 1966.
