Name
William Charles Arnold
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
28/03/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
495945
London Regiment *1
1st/13th (County of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 9 or 10.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Potters Bar, Little Heath & Bentley Heath Memorial, Potters Bar, All Souls Chapel Book of Remembrance, Potters Bar
Pre War
William Charles Arnold was born in Potters in 1894 to Charles Arnold, a gardener, and Clara (nee Simmons).
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, Phoebe (born 1889), William Charles, and Grandmother Phoebe Simmons were living at Barnet Road, South Mimms, Potters Bar. His father died in 1910.
On the 1911 Census William was a fishmonger’s assistant and boarding at 24 Annerly Grove, Upper Norwood. His widowed mother was living at Barnet Road, South Mimms.
William married Rose Ellen Hendy in 1913 Daughter Dorothy Hendy was born in Mar 1917.
Wartime Service
No Service record was found for William. He enlisted in 1st/13th (County of London) Battalion (Princess Louise’s Kensington) as a Territorial Soldier, Private 495945.
The 1/13 Battalion joined the all Territorial 56th (1st London) Division in Feb 1916. William may have joined them in time to take part in the Battles of 3rd Ypres (Paschendaele). In 1918 the Division was involved in the 1st Battle of Arras in defence against the German Spring Offensive, William was killed in action on 28 Mar 1918. His remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Arras Memorial.
Additional Information
*1 Believed more correctly, (County of London) Bn. London Regiment (Kensington).War Gratuiry of £3 and arraears of £3 4s 9d was paid to his widow.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper