Name
Arthur James Abbiss
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/07/1916
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Corporal
13594
Suffolk Regiment
11th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Panel and Face 1C and 2 A
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin, Hitchin British Boys' School Memorial, Hitchin
Pre War
Arthur was born in Hitchin 1892 to Frederick and Ellen Lane Abbiss and he attended Hitchin Boys British School.
In 1901 the family were living at 9 Union Road, Hitchin and the family consisted of Frederick Abbiss (41) working as a carpenter, Ellen Jane (39) and children Ethel (17), John (13), Frederick William (10), Arthur (8), Dora Elizabeth (5), Ivy Lois (3) and two-month old Annie.
The 1911 Census the family were at 75 Tilehouse Street, Hitchin, Frederick and Ellen had been marroed for 29 years and had 9 children of who two had died. The family was recorded as parents Frederick and Ellen and Frederick (20) Arthur, now 18 and listed as a Butcher Journeyman a apprentice to a master butcher, Dora, Ivy and Constance (7).
Arthur enlisted in March in Cambridgeshire.
Wartime Service
The 11th (Service) Battalion (Cambridgeshire) of the Suffolk Regiment was part of the 101st Brigade in the 34th Division. He was given the Regimental Number 13594 when he was posted to the 11th Battalion of the Regiment.
They had moved up from Becourt Wood in the early morning of the 1st July 1916 behind the 10th Battalion of the Lincolns. Mines to the front and to the left were exploded at 7.28am (Lochnager Crater). The men were cut down within moments of leaving their assembly positions and casualties were heavy. The Battalion lost 691 men out of about 900 in four days. "Men spun round and dropped everywhere" said one survivor.
Arthur was initially reported as missing but later as killed in action at Albert.
Additional Information
His mother placed an "In Memoriam" notice in the ‘Herts Express’ in 1917. He had a brother.
He is also commemorated on a family grave in Hitchin Cemetery, His inscription simply reads:
CPL A. J. ABBISS
KILLED IN ACTION JULY 1ST 1916.
KILLED IN ACTION JULY 1ST 1916.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
