Name
Arthur Petty
1893
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
20/04/1915
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
2755
Hertfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BETHUNE TOWN CEMETERY
IV. B. 50.
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Bishop's Stortford Town Memorial, United Reformed Church Memorial, Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford, All Saints Church Memorial(s), Hockerill,
Pre War
Arthur Benjamin Petty was born in 1893 in Bishop's Stortford to Benjamin Petty, a carpenter, and Isabella Anne (nee White).
On the 1901 Census Arthur was living with his parents, Ellen (born 1878), William Benjamin (born 1881), Annie E (born 1886), Charlotte R (born 1888), Sidney (born 1886), Ethel M (born 1896) and Mabel (born 1899), at Hockerill Terrace, London Road, Bishops Stortford.
On the 1911 Census Arthur was living with his family of parents, William B, Charlotte, Sidney, Ethel and Mabel at 29 London Road, Bishop's Stortford and Arthur was working as a porter for a grocer. He was later employed by Mr. G. R. Piper, an antique dealer in South Street.
Arthur had two brothers who died early in life: Ernest (born 1890 died 1891) and Harry Frank (born 1883 died 1886).
Wartime Service
Arthur was one of a number of young men who enlisted at the Patriotic Meeting held in the Great Hall in Sep 1914. He attested for service as a Territorial Soldier as Private 2755 in the Hertfordshire Regiment on 4 Sep 1914. The 2st Battalion went to France on 5 Nov 1914 and arrived at Ypres on 11 Nov 1915 to take up positions near Hooge as part of 4th (Guards) Brigade, 2nd Division. Shortly afterwards Arthur became a victim to “frozen feet” and spent 2 months in hospital. He returned to the Battalion on 24 Jan 1915.
Arthur was wounded soon after the Hertfordshire Regiment took over trenches at Windy Corner, Givenchy from 3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards on 19 Apr 1915. Arthur died from his wounds in the French Civilian & Military Hospital, Bethune on 20 Apr 1915. He was the second local member of the 1st Herts Territorial Regiment to meet his death on the battlefield.
Additional Information
His father Benjamin was awarded £3 War Gratuity and arrears of £7 10s 3d.
Brother William served as Private 40456 1st Bedfordshire Regiment, G/60185 16th & 12th Royal Fusiliers and 91963 16th Durham Light Infantry, surviving the Great War. Brother Sidney served as 56117 in York & Lancaster Regiment, and 57709 West Yorkshire Regiment, surviving.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer, Neil Cooper
Jenny Clough, Jonty Wild
