Arthur's Story.
EARLY LIFE
Arthur Green was born on 30 September 1885 and baptised on 4 October 1885 at St Alban’s Church, Macclesfield, the son of Ellen and James Green, a tailor of Macclesfield. In 1891, five year old Arthur was living at 22 Hayes Yard, King Edward Street, with his parents and siblings Mary (15), Margaret (12), John Henry (10), and Alfred (1). Ten years later at the age of fifteen, Arthur was employed as a builders’ labourer and was living at 24 Hayes Yard, King Edward Street, with his parents and brothers John Henry (20), Alfred (11), James (8), Albert (5) and Joseph (2).
On 18th April 1904, Arthur attested in Macclesfield with the 4th (Militia) Cheshire Regiment, being given service number 5558. He stated that he lived at 18 Newgate, Mill Street, Macclesfield and was employed by Millward & Wheeldon as a bricklayers labourer. He was described as 5 feet 6¼ inches tall, weighed 141 pounds and had a 34½ inch chest, with a fresh complexion, blue eyes and dark hair. His next of kin were named as his parents and brothers John, James and Albert, all of 18 Newgate, Mill Street. Arthur’s service records show that he was trained in musketry in 1904, was present at the annual training camps of 1904, 1905 and 1906, and was given leave in 1907.
By 1911, the family had moved to 32 Hayes Yard and Arthur was employed as a quarry labourer. According to the census record, there were seven children of the marriage but the two girls, Mary and Margaret, had died.
WW1 SERVICE
Arthur does not appear to have served overseas but died in Macclesfield on 19 February 1916 and, according to the St Alban’s parish registers, he was buried in the family grave in Macclesfield Cemetery on 25th February 1916. His death was announced in the Macclesfield Times Births, Marriages and Deaths section of 3rd March 1916 (apparently with an incorrect date of death):
GREEN – February 21st, at 32, Hayes’ Yard, Arthur Green, aged 30 years.
COMMEMORATION
L/Cpl Arthur Green is buried in Grave Ref. J. 9109 (R.C.) of Macclesfield Cemetery. This is a family grave in the Catholic section of the cemetery and is marked by a cross with a plinth and kerb surround. The inscription on the memorial reads:
OF YOUR CHARITY PRAY FOR THE SOUL OF
JAMES GREEN DIED MARCH 31ST 1913 AGED 68 YEARS
ALSO ELLEN HIS WIFE WHO DIED SEPT 9TH 1913
ALBERT GREEN THEIR SON WHO WAS KILLED IN ACTION IN FRANCE, NOV 1ST 1915 AGED 19 YEARS
ALSO L. CORPORAL ARTHUR GREEN 8TH BATT. SOUTH LANCASHIRE REGT WHO DIED FEB 19TH AGED 29 YEARS
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission holds casualty details for L/Cpl Arthur Green, and he is listed on the Imperial War Museum’s Lives of the First World War website.
In Macclesfield, L/Cpl Arthur Green is commemorated on the Park Green, Town Hall, St Michael’s Church and St Alban’s Church war memorials.
NOTES
Brother of Albert Green, killed in action in France 1st November 1915; Joseph Green, killed in action in Belgium 31st July 1917; John Henry Green, killed in action in Belgium 3rd August 1917, and Alfred Green, who served at Gallipoli and survived the war.
Research by Rosie Rowley, Macclesfield.