Name
Arthur Summerfield
1899
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
06/06/1918
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
52459
Royal Irish Rifles
12th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
KLEIN-VIERSTRAAT BRITISH CEMETERY
V. A. 17.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, Tilehouse St Baptist Church War Memorial, Hitchin, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin, British Schools Museum Memorial, Hitchin, Irish War Casualties 1814-1922
Pre War
Arthur was born in 1899 in Hitchin, his parents were John and Sarah Summerfield.
In 1901 the family were living at 18 Old Park Road, Hitchin. Present were both parents: John (44) and Sarah (42), with x and working as a coachman groom. Their children were: Fred (19), Sidney (17), Reginald (14), Cissie S (9), Harold (3) and Arthur (1).
By 1911 the family had moved to 30 Union Road, Hitchin. Present were both parents, John now working as a general labourer. The census recorded they had been married for 32 years with 8 children, of whom 1 had died. Of the above children Lilian and Reginald are missing and the other have been joined by Hilda (9).
Before he enlisted he had worked for Waters & Sons of Bancroft, Hitchin.
Officially Arthur was recorded as born in Hitchin and was living there when he enlisted in Bedford.
Wartime Service
At first Arthur was given the Regimental Number 38572 in the 1st Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, but was later posted to the 12th Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles with the Number 52459. He was killed in action in Belgium while he was a member of a digging party and a shell burst among them. This was late in the Battle of the Lys when the 12th Battalion was in the 108th Brigade of the 36th Division of the 2nd Army.
Arthur was buried in Plot 5, Row A, Grave 17 in the Klein Vierstraat British Cemetery in Belgium.
Additional Information
His brother Harold was killed on the 16th August 1917.
After his death £7 8s 4d pay owing was authorised to go to his mother and sole legatee, Mary Perry, on 30 October 1918. Later, a war gratuity of £3 10s was authorised to be paid to her on 28 November 1919. As his mother was named Sarah, it is thought that Mary may have been the older sister mentioned as Mary J in the 1891 census
Arthur and Harold share a pension card which records their mother, Sarah , as their dependant, her address was 30 Union Road, Hitchin. She was awarded a pension of 10s a week.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
