Arthur Edgar's Story.
EARLY LIFE
Arthur Edgar Savage was born in Macclesfield and baptised on 24th December 1893 at St John's Church, Macclesfield, the son of Elizabeth (née Doobar, a dressmaker) and John Savage (a railway carter), of 22 Church Street West, Macclesfield. In 1901, seven-year-old Arthur was living at that address with his parents and siblings John Arnold (10) and Elizabeth May (8). By 1911, Arthur's mother had died and the family had moved to 2 Waters Green Terrace.
Arthur was educated at Christ Church School; after leaving school he found employment as a calico printer, and later worked at the Ingersley Vale Bleach works in Bollington.
The family later moved to 14 Waterloo Street West, Macclesfield.
WW1 SERVICE
Arthur enlisted soon after the war started on 5 September 1914. In his army service records he was described as 5 feet 6¾ inches tall with a 33 inch chest and weighed 127 pounds, with a fresh complexion, brown hair and hazel eyes. Whilst training at Aldershot, he was admonished on 30 June 1915 for being absent from Church Parade.
Arthur was drafted to France on 26 September 1915, and served as a bomber (throwing hand grenades). On 17 July 1916 his left arm was fractured and he was shot in the chest; he was taken to a military hospital in Rouen but died of his wounds four days later on 21 July.
His death was reported in the Macclesfield Courier on 29 July 1916:
PRIVATE A SAVAGE
We regret to state that Private Savage, of Christ Church Square, Macclesfield, has died of wounds received in action in France.
Private Savage enlisted in August 1914, in the 10th Cheshires, and was drafted out to France in July 1915, where he has seen some heavy fighting. He was wounded in the chest and also sustained a compound fracture of his left arm on July 17th 1916 - during the "big push". He was removed to a military hospital in Rouen, where he died as a result of his wounds on July 21st. He was only 22 years of age, and before enlisting was employed at Messrs. A J King's Bleach Works, Bollington. He was a native of Macclesfield.
Arthur's death was also reported in the Macclesfield Times on 4 August 1916:
WOUNDS IN CHEST AND ARM - PRIVATE SAVAGE'S DEATH AT ROUEN
News has been received that Private Arthur Savage, son of Mr J Savage, has died of wounds received in action in France. He was shot in the chest on July 17th, and also sustained a compound fracture of the left arm. Private Savage died in hospital at Rouen on July 21st.
The deceased, who was 22 years of age, received his education at Christ Church Day School, and attended the Church there. He joined the 10th Cheshires in August 1914, being at that time employed at the Ingersley Vale Bleach works, Bollington. Private Savage was drafted to France in July, 1915, and had taken part in heavy fighting. His eldest brother, Private Arnold Savage, is serving in Egypt with the 1/7th Batt. Cheshire Regt.
COMMEMORATION
Private Arthur Savage is buried in Grave Ref. II. A. 7 of the Bois-Guillaume Communal Cemetery in France.
In Macclesfield, Private Arthur Savage is commemorated on the Park Green, Town Hall, and Christ Church School war memorials.
The floral tributes laid when the Macclesfield Park Green War Memorial was unveiled on 21 September 1921 included one with the words "In loving memory of Arthur Edgar Savage, from father, sister, and brother."
NOTES
Brother of Arnold Savage, who served in Egypt with the 1/7th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment and survived the war.
SOURCES
GRO (England & Wales) Index: Births
Census (England & Wales): 1901, 1911
Cheshire Parish Baptism Registers: St John’s Church, Macclesfield
British Army WWI Service Records, 1914-1920
WWI British Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects
WWI British Army Medal Rolls Index Cards
Commonwealth War Graves Commission website
Macclesfield Courier: 29 July 1916
Macclesfield Times: 4 August 1916
Research by Rosie Rowley, Congleton.
Research by Rosie Rowley, Congleton.