Name
Arthur Gerald Brian
1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
16/10/1917
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Captain
Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry
10th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Mentioned in Dispatches
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
NINE ELMS BRITISH CEMETERY
IV. F. 12
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
HOLD THOU THY CROSS BEFORE MY CLOSING EYES
UK & Other Memorials
Berkhamsted Town Memorial, St Peter’s Church Plaque, Berkhamsted, Berkhamsted School Memorial, Berkhamsted
Pre War
Arthur Gerald Brian was born in Maidenhead, Berkshire in 1895, the son of Hyla Edwin and Annie Brian and one of six children. His father worked in the Egyptian Civil Service.
On the 1911 Census Arthur was living with his mother and siblings at Holmbury, Berkhamsted, Herts at which time he was a scholar. His father was not listed with them.
He was educated at Berkhamsted School and left in 1913.
Wartime Service
Arthur joined the Inns of Court Officers Training Corps under the reg. no. 2677 and then obtained a commission with the 10th Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. He was sent to France on 20 June 1916.
He was promoted to Captain but died of wounds on 16 October 1917, aged 22, at Poperinghe and is buried in Nine Elms British Cemetery, Belgium.
He was Mentioned in Dispatches – London Gazette 30434 – 14th December 1917.
Additional Information
His mother received a war gratuity of £6 and pay owing of £198 10s 3d. She obtained probate of his estate on 22 January 1919 with effects of £314 4s 9d. His father ordered his headstone inscription while living at Holmbury, Berkhamsted, it reads: "HOLD THOU THY CROSS BEFORE MY CLOSING EYES".
His older brother, Herbert, was killed in 1915.
His parents later lived at Holmbury, Wadhurst, Sussex.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jo Bayley
