Name
Arthur John Titmuss
18 June 1893
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
26/08/1916
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
14215
Bedfordshire Regiment
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
PHILOSOPHE BRITISH CEMETERY, MAZINGARBE
I. J. 7.
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Saviour's Church War Memorial, Radcliffe Rd. Hitchin, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin, St Katherine’s Church Memorial, Ickleford, St. Peter’s Church Memorial, Holwell, We are not aware of any memorial in Cadwell
Pre War
Arthur was born on 18 June 1893 in Cadwell, near Hitchin, and baptised on 30 July 1893 in Ickleford. His parents were James Louis and Martha Ann Titmuss.
In 1901 the family were living in Cadwell, near Holwell, near Hitchin. Present were both parents: James (40) and Martha (39), with James and working as a brickmaker’s labourer. Their children were: Herbert T (17), Emily A (16), Louis (11), Arthur John (7), Minnie (5), Eva M (2) and Lilian (1).
In 1911 the family were still in Cadwell, , Herts. Present were both parents, x now working as farm labourer . The census recorded they had been married for 30 years with 15 children, of whom 5 had died. Others present were Herbert, Emily (now Emily Day), her husband Charles Day (39) a farm labourer, Louis, now 21 and a bricklayer, Ella an art needle worker, Arthur, now 17 and a coach painter Minnie, also an art needle worker, Eva, Lilian and Beatrice (8).
Officially he was recorded as born in Holwell, Beds (sic) and was living in Ickleford when he enlisted in Hitchin.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Hitchin and joined the 6th Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment, was given the Regimental Number 14215 and served in France from 17 August 1915.
They saw action in July 1916, at the Battle of Bazentin Ridge (Battle of the Somme).
The 6th Battalion arrived in Mazingarbe on the 24th August 1916 and went into trenches in the Loos Salient the following day as part of the 37th Division.
Arthur was killed in action on 26 August 1916, aged 23, and is buried in the Philosophe British Cemetery, Mazingarbe, France, next to the grave of Bert Watson from Charlton, Nr Hitchin who died the same day and also served with the 6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment.
Additional Information
Brother to Lewis Titmuss who died the following year.
After his death £4 12s 3d pay owing was authorised to go to his mother on 7 March 1917. Later, a war gratuity of £9 was authorised to be paid to her on 2 September 1919.
His pension cards record Martha Ann Titmuss as, his mother and his dependant, living in Cadwell, Ickleford, nr Hitchin. She was awarded a pension of 4s a week from 25 February 1917, then 5s from 6 November 1918.13 May 1919.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Adrian Dunne, Tony James, David C Baines, Brenda Palmer, Jonty Wild, www.bedfordregiment.org.uk
