Arthur's Story.
Born on the 11th April 1895, Arthur was one of seven children born to Thomas James and Emily Moseley of Hill Farm, Antrobus. The farm had been in the family for several years, Thomas was the grandson of Jane Frith who owned the farm in 1881. By 1901 age 43 Thomas owns the farm, Arthur is aged 5, he as an elder brother John and a younger one Robert age 2. The 1911 census shows Arthur age 15 working on his father’s farm, as well as John. His younger siblings, Robert age 12, Alexander age 9, Olive age 5 are at school and Sidney age 3. It also shows that one child had died.
Arthur arrived in France sometime after 1916 as his medal entitlement shows the family received the British War and Victory medal.
On the 21st March 1918, the 10th Battalion received orders to proceed from their camp at Achiet-Le-Grand to a camp west of Fremicourt, later that day they took up positions in the line just west of Vaulx. Over the next couple of days, the Germans carried out numerous attacks on the line, on the 24th orders were received to withdraw to a line 600 yards east of Beugnetre, the war dairy states: At 3:10 p.m. the withdrawal commenced. This was carried out in a very orderly manner under a very heavy machine gun barrage. The front-line companies withdrawing through the support companies. The frontline companies then took up positions 600 yards east of BEUGNETRE and the support companies withdrew through them on to a line south east of BEUGNETRE. The enemy was observed to be advancing in very large numbers, so the front-line companies were instructed to fall back on the line occupied by the support companies. The battalion suffered rather heavily during the withdrawal especially in Lewis guns; nevertheless, we kept up intense rifle fire on the enemy who was advancing in large numbers. The battalion by this time was thoroughly disorganised; all company commanders and many other officers having become casualties, so according to arrangements made the remnants were collected at brigade H.Q.
At 7:30 on the morning of the 25th the battalion proceeded forward and in conjunction with the 1st Bn. Wiltshire Regiment on the left and the 4th Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment on the right, dug in and occupied slit trenches east and south east of Achiet-le-Grand.
At dusk on the 25th the 1st Bn. Wiltshire Regiment were ordered to withdraw and by 9:30 p.m. the 4th Bn. South Staffordshire’s started to withdraw, 15 minutes later the 10th Cheshire’s withdrew.
Achiet-le Grand is approximately 8kms from Bapaume, according to Red Cross records the Germans found Arthur who was taken prisoner of war with gunshot wounds to his right thigh. He was moved to Tournai, Belgium where he died of his wounds a month later, on the 25th April 1918. Fourteen days after his 23rd birthday.
Cheshire County memorial Project would like to thank Denis Moseley for the pictures.