Name
Arthur Cushing*1
1872
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
31/01/1917
46
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
36291
Royal Berkshire Regiment
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
DOULLENS COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION NO.1
IV. G. 12.
France
Headstone Inscription
TO LIVE IN HEARTS WE LEAVE BEHIND IS NOT TO DIE.
UK & Other Memorials
Shenley Village Memorial,
Not listed on the Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
Arthur Cushing (often known as 'Dick') was born in 1872 in Highgate, Middlesex, the only son of Thomas and Mary Cushing, and was baptised on 14 July 1872 at St Michael's Church, Highgate where his father was working as a coachman. His sister Mary was born in 1874 in Hougham, Kent, but by the 1881 Census the family were living at London Road, Shenley. Arthur was a pupil at Shenley Boys' School and they remained in Shenley in 1891, then living in New Road and Arthur was working as a farm labourer.
His father died in 1892 and is buried in St Botolph's churchyard at Shenleybury. His mother remained in Shenley.
Arthur was working as a labourer for Thomas Wing at the Red Lion in Radlett in 1898 when he joined the county Militia (later called the Special Reserve) in St Albans in October, signing up for six years with the 4th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. The Battalion was embodied in January 1900 to fight in the Boer War and Arthur was in South Africa for two years before returning to Shenley in June 1902. There was a celebration in Shenley Village Hall to mark the safe return of five Shenley men who had fought in the war. Arthur returned to his previous occupation as a general labourer and was listed on the 1911 Census as 'labourer on estate', probably at Shenley Grange, living with his widowed mother at Hope Cottage, Shenley. His mother died in 1914 and Arthur then lodged with Harry and Martha Hill in Myrtle Cottage in New Road, Shenley.
Wartime Service
In early October 1914, despite being 43 years of age (at that time only men aged 18-41 were being conscripted), he enlisted in Hertford and initially served as Private 5579 with the Hertfordshire Regiment, later being transferred to the Royal Berkshire Regiment. He suffered a wound to the hand some time in 1916 and was repatriated to England and following his recovery was returned to the Front.
Arthur (Dick) died of wounds on 31 January 1917 at the military hospital (3rd Canadian Stationary Hospital), probably as a result of action on 27 January when a shell landed in the dugout entrance. He was wounded in the head and never regained consciousness. He is buried in Doullens Communal Cemetery, Somme, France.
Additional Information
*1 there are some contradictions in information. Because Arthur was known as 'Dick', he often appears in official records as Richard. Service number 36291 appears as Arthur (CWGC) and Richard (SDITGW) and on the Hertfordshires Memorial list a P Cushing. However the rest of the SDITGW matches the CWGC & SDITGW confirms that he was formerly 5579 in the Hertfordshire Regiment.
His sister, Mrs Mary Vince, received a war gratuity of £5 and pay owing of £7 16s 5d. She ordered his headstone inscription, while leaving at 46 Corbyn St, Finsbury Park, N4, it reads: "TO LIVE IN HEARTS WE LEAVE BEHIND IS NOT TO DIE".
Acknowledgments
Taff Williams, Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild
