Name
Arthur William Jefford
2 August 1893
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
754448
Canadian Infantry, Royal Highlanders of Canada
73rd Bn.
'A' Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BARLIN COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
I. G. 61.
France
Headstone Inscription
GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAT HE LAID DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS
UK & Other Memorials
Croxley Green Village Memorial, Croxley Green,
All Saints' Church Shrine, Croxley Green,
Rickmansworth Urban District Memorial,
Not on the Berkhamsted Memorials
Not on the St Albans memorials(*1)
Pre War
Arthur William Jefford was born on 2 August 1893 in St Albans, the son of Ernest and Ellen Jefford and one of six children.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at Walling Place, Frogmore, Hertfordshire where his father was working as a railway labourer. They had moved to Croxley Hall Farm Cottages by 1911 and Arthur was working as a farm labourer.
He emigrated to Canada, aged 19, leaving on 20 April 1913 from Bristol on the ship Royal Edward and arriving in Halifax, Canada. At the time of enlistment in February 1916 he was living at 25 Gore St., Sault Ste Marie, Ontario.
His parents remained at Croxley Hall Farm Cottages but subsequently moved to Castle Hill Farm Cottage, Berkhamsted.
Wartime Service
Arthur attested on 4 February 1916 at Sault Sainte Marie, Ontario, Canada. He gave his occupation as a labourer and his age as 22 years and 6 months.
He joined the 19th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force and sailed from Halifax to Liverpool on S S Metagama, arriving on 19 August 1916. He was transferred to ‘A’ Company 73rd Battalion on 15 November 1916, the day he arrived in France.
On 13 January 1917 he was wounded as a result of being buried by a shell but discharged back to duty on 20 January. He was appointed acting Lance Corporal on 17 February 1917.
Arthur Jefford died during the build up to the Arras offensive and the Canadian attack on Vimy Ridge. On 4 April the battalion moved from Chateau de la Haie into the line below Vimy Ridge. Arthur was dangerously wounded and he died of his wounds in the 6th Casualty Clearing Station at Bethune, two days later, aged 23. He is buried in Barlin Communal Cemetery Extension south of Bethune, France.
Additional Information
*1 Records found have recorded his birthplace as St Albans. This may be the case, however St Albans was the main postal location given for nearby villages and hamlets, so it may be that this information is misleading. If more accurate information found this will be updated.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Brian Thomson, Croxley Green in the First World War Rickmansworth Historical Society 2014, www.bac-lac.gc.ca
