Arthur was born on 26th June 1899 in Hackney London to parents Arthur and Alice. He was baptised the following month on 16th July at St Michael’s and All Angels Church, Hackney.
He was recorded along with his parents on the 1901 census - he was Arthur and Alice’s only child at the time and the little family lived at 97 Shrubland Road, Shoreditch.
Within the ten years between census’s Arthur gained two younger sisters. He was aged 12 and by the 1911 census the family lived at 79 Edwards Road, Walthamstow.
Arthur was working as a factory hand when he joined the Navy on 7th May 1915 as a Boy 2nd Class. He was 5’1” tall with brown hair, blue eyes and a fair complexion. He was sent to the Suffolk training establishment in Shotley and remained there until 20th September 1915, rising to Boy 1st Class on 27th August 1915. He was then posted to his only ship, HMS VANGUARD, on 21st September 1915 and was aboard the dreadnought during the Battle of Jutland, still as a boy rating. He rose in his rating to Ordinary Seaman on 26th December 1916 and remained with the ship, being caught up in the devastating explosion.
His pension was awarded to his mother, his father was awarded his Star, Victory and British war medals. He is remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial.
(#283 - 421/843)
Sources:
England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915 Free BMD
London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906 London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; London Church of England Parish Registers; Reference Number: P79/MAA/004
1901 & 1911 England Census
Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services, 1848-1939 National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services; Class: ADM 188; Piece: 728
British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records, 1730-1960 National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Admiralty: Naval Casualties, Indexes, War Grave Rolls and Statistics Book, First World War.; Class: ADM 242; Piece: Piece 008; Piece Description: Piece 008 (1914 - 1919)
British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records, 1730-1960 National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Admiralty and predecessors: Office of the Director General of the Medical Department of the Navy and predecessors: Service Registers and Registers of Deaths and Injuries. Registers of Reports of Deaths
CWGC Register
Royal Navy and Royal Marine War Graves Roll, 1914-1919 TNA Series: ADM 242/8; Scan Number: 1056
Naval Medal and Award Rolls, 1793-1972 Class: ADM 171; Piece: 106
World War I Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923 Western Front Association; London, England; WWI Pension Record Cards and Ledgers; Reference: 106/0480/HUR-HUT
Photo courtesy of Joanne Leaver