Name
Arthur Charles Tinworth
1887
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
31/07/1917
29
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
269793
Hertfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
NEW IRISH FARM CEMETERY
XIV. F. 5.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
There is no inscription on his Headstone.
UK & Other Memorials
St Matthew’s Church Memorial, Oxhey, Oxhey Town Memorial, Wesleyan Methodist (now Bushey & Oxhey) Church Memorial, (Oxhey), North Watford Methodist Church, St Michael & All Angels Church Memorial, Watford, Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford, Not on the Bushey memorials(*1)
Pre War
Arthur Charles Tinworth, born in Bushey in 1887, was the son of Edwin Tinworth and Sarah Ann Tinworth, (nee Speed) of 60 Upper Paddock Road, Oxhey. His father was a railway clerk, and the family moved to Watford, where Arthur grew up, he was one of seven children Alfred E. (Born 1883), Alice (B 1884), William L. (B 1886), Frederick J. (B 1890), Owen (B 1893), and Vida A. (B 1896).
His parents married 8 May 1882 at Kentish Town Parish Church, London. Edward died 22 December 1927 in Watford aged 65, and was buried 28 December in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Sarah died 1947 in Watford aged 85, and was buried 21 February, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
1891 Census records Arthur aged 3, living with his parents, and 4, siblings at 60, Upper Paddock Road, Watford.
1901 Census record him aged 13, living with his parents and 6 siblings, at Hendon Villa, Bradshaw Road, Watford.
When Arthur left school, he was employed by the London and North Western Railway Company as a clerk in the Chief Cashier’s Office, Euston Station, London.
On 22nd June 1910 Arthur married Amy Sophia Sophia (nee HARDWICKE) of TINWORTH of Watford), the daughter of George and Mary Hardwicke.
1911 Census records Arthur as married to Amy and they lived at 47, Princes Avenue, Watford, his occupation was given as a Railway Clerk. Amy’s widower father George Hardwick 69, a Retired Railway Carpenter was living with them.
Son, Owen Reginald Tinworth was born in December 1913.
Wartime Service
Arthur attested at Watford for Short Service (Duration of War) on 2nd December 1915.
He was recorded as a L.N.W.R. clerk and aged 28, 5’4″ tall, Wesleyan, of Watford, and was posted to the Army Reserve. He was posted to the Reserve on 3rd December 1915, with the Service Number 9790. Mobilized for War Service on 29th September 1916 and posted the following day to the Hertfordshire Regiment with a new Service Number 269793. Serving at home from September 1916 to 1st January 1917, embarking at Folkstone on 2nd January 1917, for Calais, France, arriving there the same day. He joined his unit at the front on 2nd March 1917.
Arthur was Killed in Action on 31 July 1917, aged 29, at the Battle of Pilken (Part of the Battle of Ypres 1917).
He is remembered with honour at New Irish Farm Cemetery in Belgium and is commemorated on the memorial at St Matthew’s Church, Oxhey and at Bushey & Oxhey Methodist Church.
Amy never re-married and died in July 1979, in Watford aged 91.
Additional Information
The value of his effects was £2-11s-11d, Pay Owing and £3, War Gratuity which went to his widow Amy. There is a brief article about and a Death announcement for Arthur in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 25 August 1917; plus In Memoriams in the issues dated 3 August 1918 and 2 August 1919. Additional information provided with kind permission of Bushey First World War Commemoration Project – Please visit www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk. *1 Records found have recorded his birthplace as Bushey. This may be the case, however Bushey was the main postal location given for nearby villages and hamlets, so it may be that this information is misleading. If more accurate information found this will be updated.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
