Name
Arthur Wilson
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/07/1916
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
G/3445
The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)
7th Bn.
"A" Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 5 D.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
St Paul’s Church Memorial, Bushey, Not on the Watford memorials(*1)
Pre War
Born in Watford(*1) on 13 October 1892, Arthur Wilson was the third of seven children born to John and Emma (nee Ashby) Wilson, two of whom died in childhood. His parents were married in the Eton registration area in the second quarter of 1887.
At the 1891 census, his parents had been living at 1 Smith Street in Watford. John and Emma were 27 and 30 years old respectively and John was working as a collector of rates for Watford Local Borough. Also present were two children named Edith and William, who were 2 years and 8 months old respectively, Emma’s widowed 71 year old mother, Mary Ashby. They employed a general servant named Alice Mary Roberts, who was 15 years old. Birthplaces for the family were given as Watford for John, Edith and William, Slough for Emma and Chipperfield for Mary.
Arthur was educated at Watford Boys’ Grammar School from 1899 to 1909.
By the time of the 1901 census, the family had moved to ‘Cromwellhurst’ in Bushey Grove Road, Bushey. John was working as a solicitors’ clerk and deputy superintendent registrar. Edith and William had three younger siblings. They were Arthur and Dora, who were 8 and 4 years old respectively, and a new baby just one month old who was yet to be named. The birthplace for Arthur and Dora was Watford and that for the new-born was Bushey. Also present were a nurse and a general servant.
At the 1911 census, the family was still living at Cromwellhurst. John was the Clerk to Bushey Urban District Council. All of the children were still living at home and the youngest, who had been unnamed at the 1901 census, was called Alec Frank. William was working as a law clerk and Arthur was a stock exchange clerk. Also present was John’s sister in law, Ann Wingrave.
Wartime Service
Arthur enlisted in London and served on the western front in The Buffs (East Kent) Regiment as Private G/3445 in A Company of the 7th Battalion. He was killed in action at Montauban near Albert on 1 July 1916, the first day of the Somme. He was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 28 July 1915.
Arthur is commemorated on Pier and Face 5D of the Thiepval memorial to the Missing of the Somme, and his name is also recorded on the memorial at St Paul’s Church, Bushey.
There is an article about and a Death announcement for Arthur in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 15 July 1916.
The 1939 England and Wales Register recorded John, Emma and Dora living at 37 Cassiobury Park Avenue in Watford.
Additional Information
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk) *1 Records found have recorded his birthplace as Watford. This may be the case, however Watford 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
Andrew Palmer
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild
