Name
Arthur Dean
1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
31/07/1917
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
266706
Hertfordshire Regiment
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 54 and 56.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Letchworth Town Memorial, Church of St Nicholas Memorial, Norton, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
Arthur Dean was born in Stofold, Beds in 1895 to Charles Dean, and Rhoda Ann (nee Tidcomb).
On the 1891 Census the family of parents, Walter C (born 1886), Albert J (born 1888 and Rose (born 1891) were living in Barracks at South Mimms, Barnet. Father Charles was a Colour Sergeant in King’s Royal Rifle Corps.
On the 1901 Census the family of widowed mother ( a publican), Walter C (apprentice bricklayer), Albert J (apprentice baker), Rose A, Louisa (born 1894), Cecil (born 1893) and Arthur were living at the Green, Stotfold, Beds.
Arthur’s mother Rhoda married Alfred Brown in 1901 in Biggleswade, Beds district.
On the 1911 Census Arthur was an errand boy in book factory and was living at 16, Green Lane, Letchworth with his stepfather Alfred, mother, Walter C (bricklayer), Rose A (photographic assistant), Louisa (book folder), Beulah Brown (born 1894, book binder) and Norman Bauls Brown (born 1896, errand boy photo factory), also recorded was Horace Bygrave (boarder, butcher’s assistant).
Son of Mrs. Rhoda Ann Dean, of 396, Icknield Way, Letchworth, Herts. Resident in Letchworth and enlisted Hertford.
Wartime Service
No Service Record was found for Arthur who enlisted at Hertford as a Territorial Soldier with the Hertfordshire Regiment as Private 5148 in Jun 1915. Following his training Arthur was posted to the 1st/1st Battalion, (the only active Service unit), as part of 118 Brigade 39 Division. Arthur may have have been present at the Battle of Ancre (1 Oct-11 Nov) on the Somme in 1916. In 1917 the Battalion had moved to the Ypres Salient and took part in the Battle of Pilkem on 31 July (part of 3rd Ypres, Passchendaele). The Battalion suffered very heavy losses in their attack at St Julien. Arthur was one of the many declared ‘Missing’ that day and his death was presumed to have been 31st Jul 1917, his remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £9 and arrears of £3 13s 10d was paid to his mother.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Dan Hill, Jonty Wild
