Name
Arthur Gentle
1884
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
19/04/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
17426
Bedfordshire Regiment
8th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
NEW IRISH FARM CEMETERY
II. H. 6.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Baldock Town Memorial, St Mary the Virgin Church Memorial, Baldock
Pre War
Arthur Emery Gentle was born in 1884 in Baldock, the son of Joseph and Mary Ann Gentle (nee Emery) and was baptised on 26 April 1885 in Baldock.
On the 1891 Census the family were living at Pond Lane, Baldock, where his father was working as a maltster, also living there was his older sister Alice and step siblings Lizzie and George Emery. By 1901 he had moved to Denis Street, Islington, where he was living with his uncle and aunt, William and Emma Millard and their family, and working as a railway van guard.
In 1901 he married Eleanor Gentle in Biggleswade, Beds and on the 1911 Census they were living at Clothall End, Baldock, with their young son William. Arthur was then working as a general labourer. They had three more children, Joseph (1911), Alice (1913) and Annie (1914).
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Hitchin, Herts and served with the 8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment in France from 27 August 1915.
Arthur was killed in action on 19 April 1916 and is buried at New Irish Farm Cemetery, Belgium.
Additional Information
His widow received a war gratuity of £6 10s and pay owing of 12s 4d. She also received a pension of £1 2s 6d a week for herself and her four children. She later lived at 6 Lemwell Crescent, Biggleswade, Beds.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Adrian Pitts, Paul Johnson
