Name
Arthur Reginald Almond
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
213341
19th Rifle Brigade
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Biography
Arthur Almond was born in Bedmond in the autumn of 1897. He was one of six children (four sons and two daughters) born to John and Grace Almond from Bedmond. John worked as an Agricultural Labourer. Arthur’s younger brother Stanley also served in the Great War. In the 1901 and 1911 Census the family lived at Bedmond Cottage, Bedmond.
Arthur was first recorded in the October edition of the Abbots Langley Parish Magazine Roll of Honour, serving with the Bedfordshire Regiment. His Medal Roll Card indicated that he moved to France on 18th March 1915, and in April 1915 the Roll of Honour showed that he was serving with the 4th Bedfordshire’s. By June 1915 he had transferred to the 2nd Bedfordshire’s and was recorded with that unit until January 1917, when he was listed with the Imperial Camel Corps. The Camel Corps was formed in Egypt in January 1916 and mainly comprised Australians returning from Gallipoli. It is not known when Arthur moved to Egypt or when he transferred to the Camel Corps, as the 2nd Bedfordshire’s fought on the Western Front throughout 1915 and 1916, at Festubert, Loos, and on the Somme.
The Camel Corps fought in the Battles of Gaza in 1917, and in the pursuit of the Turks to Jerusalem, but when the Army in Egypt was reorganised the Corps was broken up in June 1918. Troops were transferred to Mounted Infantry units, horses replacing their camels, and some men found themselves being posted to the Infantry. The Parish Roll of Honour, and three Absent Voter Lists between Autumn 1918 and Autumn 1919 indicated that Arthur served with 19th Rifle Brigade in Egypt.
Arthur Almond survived the War, as did his brother Stanley.
Additional Information
Formerly service numbers 5698, 14183 & 21153
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
