Name
Arthur William (Thomas) Claridge
19 Dec 1889
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
04/10/1917
29
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
G/21209
The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
DUISANS BRITISH CEMETERY, ETRUN
V. B. 48.
France
Headstone Inscription
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
UK & Other Memorials
All Saints Church Memorial, St Paul's Walden, Whitwell Village Memorial, We are not aware of any memorial in Bendish
Pre War
Arthur William (Thomas) Claridge was born in Kings Walden, Herts in December 1889. the son of Frederick and Hannah Claridge, and baptised on 8 March 1890. He was one of ten children, although three died in infancy.
On the 1891 Census the family was living at Kingsland End, Kings Walden, Hertfordshire where his father was working as a farm labourer. In 1901 they were living at Ley Green, Kings Walden, but had moved to the hamlet of Bendish, St Pauls Walden by 1911, at which time Arthur was working as a farm labourer.
Officially recorded as Born in Stapley, Beds and living in Bendish, when he enlisted in Luton, Beds.
Wartime Service
Arthur enlisted in Luton, Beds as Private G/21209 in 1917. No Service Record was found for Arthur. He was posted to and joined the 6th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) and probably joined them in the field in France in 1917 Jul) following their part in the Arras Offensive.
Between May and Oct 1917 the Buffs as part of 23 (Eastern) Division were to hold front Line positions in the area of Monchy le Preux, improving the trenches and carrying out raids. Arthur was wounded during the latter part of this period and died of his wounds on 4 Oct 1917, probably at one of the Casualty Clearing Stations based at Duisans from 1916. He is buried at Duisans British Cemetery, Etrun, France.
A report in Luton Reporter dated Oct 17 1917 states that “Regret has been occasioned at the Luton Iron Foundry in Hitchin by the news of the death in Hospital in France from shell wounds in the back, chest and arm of Arthur Claridge. The first of the firms employees to fall in the war. Pte. Claridge, whose home was in Bendish. Was a moulder’s assistant at the foundry were he had been employed for six years prior to joining up. He had been in the Army only six months and had served in three months in France”
Additional Information
His Sister Harriet, Mrs Chalkley, of Preston, Nr Hitchin, Herts., ordered his headstone inscription: "GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN",
War Gratuity of £3 and arrears of £3 6s 1d. She also received a pension of eleven shillings a week.
SDITGW gives Arthur's birthplace as Stapley, Beds but there appears to be no documentary evidence for this. Also the name of Thomas does not appear on his official birth registration list or christening records, where he is recorded as Arthur William.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer, Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
