Name
Arthur (Jack) Fountain (MM)
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
27/09/1916
35
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Company Serjeant Major
15400
Bedfordshire Regiment
17th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Military Medal
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 2 C
France
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Markyate Village Memorial, St John The Baptist Church Memorial, Markyate
Pre War
Arthur (Jack) Fountain was born in in Markyate in 1881, to William Richard Fountain, Agricultural labourer) and Sarah Ann Poulton.
On the 1891 Census the family of parents, Lizzie (born 1875), Arthur (Jack), Frederick (born 1884), George (born 1886), Thomas (born 1889) and Harry (born 1890) were living at Woodside Road, Caddington.
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, Arthur Frederick (both farm labourers) and Harry were ling at Chapel Lane, Markyate.
On the 1911 Census Arthur was living with his married sister Annie and her husband William G. Champkin and their son William at 184 Wellington Street, Luton. He was a labourer at the Henry Brown and Sons timber yard in Dunstable Road, and his interests included football. His father, William and brother Harry were living at 1, North Cottages, Markyate.
Wartime Service
No Service record was found for Jack. Jack enlisted on 7 Sep 1914 as Private 15400 in the Bedfordshire Regiment.
Following his training he went to France on 26 Jul 1915 with 7th (Service) Battalion in 18th (Eastern) Division. At some time Jack acquired the rank of Company Serjeant Major. In 1916 the Division took part in the Battle of the Somme particularly the Battle of Albert (1 -13 Jul), Bazentin Ridge (14-17 Jul) capturing Trones Wood, Thiepval Ridge (26-28 Sep). During this last action Jack was killed in action on 27 Sep 1916 in the advance to capture the Schwaben Redoubt.
His remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme. Jack was Mentioned in Dispatches (31 Dec 1915) and awarded the Military Medal (10 Nov 1916).
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £15 10s and arrears of £17 1s 4d was shared by his family members. Brother Harry served with as Private 20099 1st Battalion bBedfordshire Regiment, Killed in action on 23 April 1917
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, Anne & Gordon Mead
