Name
Arthur Wellesley Holt
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
08/08/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
G/68546
The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
VIS-EN-ARTOIS MEMORIAL
Panel 3.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Leavesden Green Memorial, We are not aware of any memorial in Garston, We are not aware of any memorial in Bricket Wood to the villagers
Pre War
Arthur Wellesley was born 18 June 1899 in Bricket Wood, Herts. the second son of Frank Coster, a bricklayer, and Lucy (nee Coster). His parents had married on 4 August 1894 at All Saints, Leavesden, Herts. Frank died 1928 at Waterdale near Watford aged 57; Lucy died 1957 in the Watford district aged 85.
On the 1901 Census, Arthur, aged 1, was living at 147 Queens Road, Watford, with his parents and elder brother Frank. On the 1911 Census, at school aged 11, he lived in Munder Lodge, Garston, with his parents, Frank and younger brothers Cyril and Leslie.
Officially recorded as born in Watford and was living in Garston when he enlisted in Watford.
Wartime Service
Arthur was enlisted in Queens (Royal West Surrey) Regiment. His Service record could not be found, so few details are known. However from his Date of Birth it would appear he was conscripted shortly after 18th Birthday.
Following training Arthur went to join the 7th (Service) Battalion of the Queens Regiment, which had been in France since July 1915 as a component of 18th (Eastern Division). This Division was engaged in the Battle of Amiens (8 Aug -11 Aug 1918).
Arthur was reported to have been killed in action on 8 Aug 1918, his remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial and was entitled to the Victory and British War medals.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
(ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk), Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
