Name
Arthur William Medhurst
29 Jun 1881
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
30/07/1915
34
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
R/3012
King's Royal Rifle Corps
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 51 and 53.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
All Saints Church, Datchworth, Roll of Honour, All Saints Church, Datchworth, Not on the Tewin Memorial
Pre War
Arthur William Medhurst was born on 29 Jun 1881 in Islington to Arthur William Medhurst and Laura Medhurst, and baptised at St Silas, Penton Street, Pentonville on 24 July 1881. His father's occupation is given as greengrocer and the family were living at 74 Chapel Street. His mother had been born in Datchworth and he had an older sister Louisa.
His father died in 1887 aged 33, followed by his mother the following year aged 32, so on the 1891 Census Arthur and his brother Harry were living with their uncle Henry Wray in Datchworth. His sister Kate was living in Waterford, Herts with cousins, and another brother Thomas Alfred was living with his great grandmother in Govers Green, Datchworth.
In 1898 he joined the army, aged 18 , and enlisting at Barnet into the Kings Royal Rifle Corps. He served in South Africa from 28 Oct 1899 to 26 Jul 1900 earning the South Africa Medal with Clasps for Ladysmith and Laings Nek. He also served in India and Ceylon from 7 Jan 1901.
On his return to UK he was transferred to the Army Reserve on 30 Oct 1905 and discharged in 1910. On the 1911 Census he was living with George and Emily Rowe (nee Wray) at 2 Holmsdale Road, Friern Barnet, London. He was described as a cousin and was working as a greengrocer.
He married Beatrice Reade on 6 September 1914 at St Anne's, Islington, when his occupation was given as 'Sergt Imp Ser Corps'. Beatrice's address given on pension records was 15 Durham Road, Finsbury Park, London.
Wartime Service
Although officially discharged from the army in 1910, Arthur had tried to re-enlist twice in January and March 1914 but was told he was not eligible, however on the outbreak of war he must have been successful as he arrived in France on 19 May 1915, serving as Sergeant in the King's Royal Rifle Corps.
Arthur was wounded at the Battle of La Hooge, Ypres and died of his wounds on 30 July 1915. (This was the first time the Germans used flame throwers and it is possible that he died from burns) . He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.
Additional Information
His widow Beatrice received a war gratuity of £6 and pay owing of £6 0s 3d. She also received a pension of 11 shillings a week.
Local newspaper the Hertfordshire Mercury published a death notice in September 1915 stating he was from Tewin.
His widow remarried in 1920 to Walter Maxim (Matim on some records) and lived at 7 School Green, Stoke by Clare, Suffolk.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper, Brenda Palmer
Brenda Palmer
