Name
Arthur Samuel Thrussell
1887
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
16/05/1915
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
5732
Prince Albert's Own Hussars
11th Battalion
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BAILLEUL COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, NORD
1.A.78
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Baldock Town Memorial, St Mary the Virgin Church Memorial, Baldock, Hitchin War Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin
Pre War
Arthur was born in 1887 in Hitchin and baptised there on 2 December 1888 in St Mary’s Church. His parents were Thomas Lander and Sarah Thrussell (née Males), both from Pirton and they had married in Pirton, Hertfordshire on 3 December 1876.
In 1891 the family were living at Manley Highway Cottages, Pirton Road, Hitchin. Present were both parents: Thomas (40) and Sarah (34), with Thomas working as an agricultural labourer and Sarah as a strawplaiter. Their children were: John (13), Frederick (5), Arthur (3) and Annie at 2 months.
In 1901 the family were living at Pirton Road Cottages, Hitchin – possibly still the same house. Of the parents only Sarah was present, she was listed as married but Thomas was not present. He was possibly away ill, as he died in the third quarter of that year. Sarah’s mother Mary Males was in the household along with siblings Frederick, Arthur, Annie, Mary (6), Harry Thomas (2) and Jabez at three months. Arthur, then 13 years old was working as a teamster on a farm (horses).
By 1911 the family were living at Manley Highway, Hitchin, Herts. Sarah now doing laundry work. Although widowed the census recorded that she had been married for 10 years with 7 children, of whom 3 had died. Of the children Harry and Jabez were present except x, plus ).
We know that Arthur had served in the Army as he was reported to be a reservist when war was declared. This probably explains his absence from the 1911 census and he may have been with the Army in Dublin around 1909, because he was know to have been seriously ill there around that time. His regimental number of 5732 suggests he enlisted between January 1905 and July 1906
Later Arthur was appointed as a postman in Letchworth in October 1913 and then later was a postman in Baldock.
Officially he was recorded as born in Hitchin and was living there when he enlisted in Royston.
Wartime Service
As Arthur was a Reservist he was called up soon after war commenced was given Service Number 5732 in the Prince Albert's Own 11th Hussars. They were in Aldershot on 4 August 1914 and went to France from Southampton on the 15th. However, Arthur was not with them as he did not enter France until Entered France on 8 October 1914. He arrived in France on 8 October 1914 as part of the 3rd Cavalry Division and at some date he was attached to the 2nd Life Guards and was with them when he died.
Around March 1915, Arthur sent his sister, who was living in Baldock a parcel of ‘war relics’ they included pieces of broke stained glass from the Cloth Hall in Ypres, and photographs. He had been wounded, but not too severely because he had remained on duty. A note with it read “I am used to chancing things now. I often wonder That I'm still alive when I think of everything that has happened since I saw you last. I am writing this in a trench. Up above my head the star shells shine, and the bullets are whistling by. The Germans have shot their bolt. They realise that their way to Paris is stopped, and the men would be only too pleased to chuck it if they dared, but they are kept on by false hopes.”
The date of his death coincides with the Battle of Frezenberg in the Ypres Salient, part of the 2nd Battle of Ypres. The Cavalry occupied a sector of trenches between Hooge and the Ypres-St. Julien Road in order to relieve the infantry which had been very heavily engaged in the area. The Cavalry came under heavy shelling and suffered a number of casualties.
He died of wounds and is buried in Plot 1, Row A, Grave 78 in the Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension in France. A number of Casualty Clearing Stations in the vicinity used this cemetery.
Curiously the nurse who was with him when he passed away was the same nurse who had nursed him in Dublin around 1909.
Additional Information
After his death £12 1s 11d pay owing was authorised to go to Mrs Sarah Thrussell, his mother, on 25 October 1915. Later, a war gratuity of £5 was authorised to be paid to her on 11 July 1919.
His pension cards record Mrs Sarah Thrussell his mother as his dependant, originally living at 9 High Street, Cockfosters, New Barnet, but later at Pirton Road Cottages, near Hitchin. It also records that she died on 28 March 1922.
In 1921 she had been at 4 Pirton Rd Farm, Hitchin with her daughter, now Mary Elizabeth Chapman, and her husband William A Chapman. Two of her children were still present; John and Harry Thomas Thrussell.
His brother Frederick served with the 3rd Reserve Cavalry Regiment and died in 1921 in Dartford, Kent.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
David C Baines, Jonty Wild
