Name
Tom Arnold
1886
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
15/09/1917
30
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
40031
Suffolk Regiment
11th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HARGICOURT BRITISH CEMETERY
I. D. 9.
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no family inscription on his Headstone
UK & Other Memorials
Cheshunt Town Memorial,
Christ Church (Formerly Holy Trinity Church) Memorial, Waltham Cross
Pre War
Tom Arnold was born in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, in 1886, son of Thomas Arnold and Ellen Arnold (nee Pateman). The eldest of six children four brothers and one sister. His father was employed at the Enfield Royal Small Arms Factory (ERSAF).
Tom was Baptised in the Parish of Waltham Cross, Herts, on 25 August 1886.
1891 Census records Tom, aged 4, living with his parents and brother Ernest (1), at 17, Park Lane, Cheshunt, Herts. His uncle William J. Pateman was also living with the family. 1901 Census records Tom, aged 14, working as a String Splicer, living with his parents, three brothers and sister Emily (2) at, 33, Eleanor Road, Waltham Cross, Herts. In 1911 the family were living at, 8, Lawrence Villas, Swanfield Road, Waltham Cross, Herts, Tom was single and employed as a Wood Sawyer Mate.
Wartime Service
Tom enlisted at London, posted to the Suffolk Regiment with the service number 40032. Seeing service on the Western Front.
He was killed in action on 15 September 1917.
Additional Information
His mother received a dependents pension of 14/- a week from 26 March 1918, for Tom and his brother Sidney.
His effects of £1-10s-00d, Pay Owing and a War Gratuity of £4, went to his father Thomas Arnold.
Two of his brothers Ernest and Sidney also died in the war. Lance Corporal 370950 Ernest George Arnold of the London Regiment (Post Office Rifles), died on 1st June 1917, in France and Private M2/176372 Sidney William Arnold of the Army Service Corps, died on 4 May 1917, at sea off the coast of Italy.
The three brothers who died are also commemorated on their parents’ grave in Cheshunt Burial Ground. Their inscription reads:
“LEST WE FORGET
In Loving Memory
OF
PTE SIDNEY W. ARNOLD, A.S.C. DROWNED AT SEA MAY 4TH 1917, AGED 23.
L/CPL. ERNEST G. ARNOLD LONDON REGT. KILLED IN ACTION JUNE 2ND 1917, AGED 28.
PTE. TOM ARNOLD SUFFOLK REGT. KILLED IN ACTION SEP. 15TH 1917, AGED 30
THE BELOVED SONS OF THOMAS AND ELLEN ARNOLD."
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
