Arthur's Story.
Arthur was born in Bugsworth, Derbyshire and, when the Census was taken in 1901, was living with his family in a "two up, two down" at Carr View, New Mills. His father, Oswald, worked as a banksman at a colliery and was married to Alice. They had six children - William (then 16), Thomas (15), Arthur (13), Alice (11), Emily (9) and Oswald (9 months). Arthur is known to have been married. He is probably the man of the same name who, in 1912, married Benedicta Wedgewood Haslam at St Matthew's Church, Stockport. She had previously married, in 1902, and her original family name was Phillips. The couple lived at 123 Chatham Street, Edgeley and would have a number of children together. He worked as a ticket collector at Edgeley Station (and is commemorated on the roll of honour of the London & North-western Railway Ltd) 4In October 1915, Arthur enlisted into the army and was assigned to the Cheshire Yeomanry. This was the local cavalry unit of the Territorial force The Yeomanry originally served in the UK but, in March 1916, it went on active service to Egypt where, in March 1917, it was merged into the newly formed 10th Battalion of the Shropshire Light Infantry. In May 1918, the Battalion was transferred to the Western Front, and it was either then or shortly beforehand that Arthur had been transferred to the Welsh Fusiliers. At the time of his death, he had been attached to the Railway Operating Division of the Royal Engineers, no doubt putting his past experience to some use. He died from natural causes.