Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Amos Wortley, a shoe maker, born 1858 in Coalville, Leicestershire and his wife Mary Ann Wortley (nee Pape), born 1861 in Leeds, Yorkshire. Archibald Archie was born in the 1st quarter of 1899 in Coalville, and was baptised on the 23rd April 1899 in the Parish Church, Coalville, his siblings were, Martha Eliza, an elastic trade web weaver, born in the 1st quarter of 1880, Mary Elizabeth, a boot trade closer, born in the 1st quarter of 1883, Benjamin Warren, a boot trade riveter, born on the 15th October 1886, Robert Wheeldin, a draper’s errand boy, born on the 25th March 1888, Thomas Henry, born on the 21st February 1891 and Amos Harold, born on the 13th November 1892, all his siblings were born in Coalville, in March 1901 the family home was in Hotel Street, Coalville. In April 1911 Archibald was a schoolboy and was residing in the family home at 20, Hotel Street, Coalville, together with his father, a cordwainer, his mother and siblings, Martha, a weaver, Robert, a colliery locomotive fitter, Thomas, an above ground colliery banks man and Amos, an elastic trade web weaver, also residing with the family was a Niece, Minnie Grace Wortley Sharman, born 1907 in Coalville. Archie had been employed as a Telegram Messenger, and in late 1916, though under age he enlisted into the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. Archie was killed by machine gun fire during one of the final engagements of the war, the Battle of Valenciennes.
Archibald’s Army enlistment documents do not survive, all that is known of his military service is that he enlisted into the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, being allotted the service number 39416, and was posted as a Private to the 2/4th Battalion King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and it was with this unit that he first entered the theatre of war in France on a date unknown. He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
The War Diary records: 4 Nov-18 - RUESNES. The Companies formed up in platoons in artillery formation in R.14.b & d and R.15.c at zero hour, to avoid any counter barrage on RUESNES. They moved off in rear of the 5th KING’S OWN YORKSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY at zero + 25 at 750 yards intervals. They arrived in position on the Blue Line from which they moved forward from right to left at the following times owing to barrage being curved. Zero + 144, zero + 156, zero + 135. The counter barrage was negligible and very few casualties were sustained. Considerable opposition was encountered in ORSINVAL village, the mopping up having been neglected, and “B” Company sustained rather heavy casualties, “B” Company cleared their area without much opposition and followed behind “C” Company. The dotted Blue Line was reached on time. Considerable opposition, chiefly Machine Gun fire was encountered from the copse in M.9 central. These were overcome by Lewis Gun fire and 20 prisoners taken. After a halt on the dotted Blue Line the two leading Companies pushed on to the Green Line and the two support Companies advanced and consolidated in M.8b & d. There was a considerable amount of Machine Gun fire from FRASNOY, but this was quickly silenced and the troops entered the outskirts of the village, mopped up the first few houses taking several prisoners. They then withdrew to a line slightly in rear of the Green Line owing to there being a better field of fire. The 2/4th YORK AND LANCASTER REGIMENT then passed through. The Green Line was captured at 09.25 hours. Battalion Headquarters moved first to LA FOLLE FARM, then to LA BELLE MAISON and finally to FRASNOY.
Casualties 1 Officer killed (2nd Lieutenant CAMPBELL) and 71 Other Ranks.
On Monday 2nd December 1918 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LOCAL CASUALTIES.” - Much sympathy is extended to Mrs. Wortley, of Hotel-street, Coalville, the blind widow of the late Mr. Amos Wortley, verger at the Parish Church, who has received official news that her youngest son, Pte. Archibald Arthur Wortley, was killed in action on the 4th inst. The deceased who was 20 years of age, was serving in the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, and before enlisting he was in the service of Dr. Alfred Orchard, of Ashby-de-la-Zouch, as chauffeur. Mrs. Wortley has two other sons soldiering.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
The following information was kindly submitted to the project by F Tilley-Genty in 2015:

"Biography:

Archibald Arthur Wortley was born in 1897 in Coalville, and educated in Coalville. He was the son of Mrs A. Wortley, of 30.Hotel St, Coalville-Leicestershire. His father, Mr Amos Wortley had been 27 years verger at the Parish church, and had also been a member of Gracedieu freemasons as a Tyler. Archibald’s dad died at 58 on February the 18th 1915.
Archibald had four brothers: Warren, Robert, Wheeldin and Harry, and a sister Mrs W.E Sharman

Military Service:

Archibald Arthur enlisted with the Army in Coalville. Archie had been employed as a Telegram Messenger, and in late 1916 though under age he enlisted into the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.

Archie was killed by a machine gun fire during one of the final engagements of the war, the Battle of Valenciennes.
Archibald was killed in action on 4th November1918, at the age of 21.

He is buried and commemorated at Villers-Pol Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord 59-France He is also remembered at Coalville Clock Tower Memorial and Christ Church, Coalville, Leicestershire."

Coalville Times article - Friday December 6th, 1918

LOCAL CASUALTIES

Another soldier to make the supreme sacrifice in the war is Pte. Archibald Arthur Wortley, of the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, who was killed in action on November 4th. Deceased, who was 20 years of age, was the son of Mrs Wortley, Hotel Street, Coalville, the blind widow of the late Mr Amos Wortley, for many years verger at the Parish Church. He was formerly in the service of Dr. Orchard of Ashby, as chauffeur. Mrs Wortley has two other sons in the forces.

Coalville Times article - Friday November 7th, 1919

IN MEMORIAM

In loving memory of Lance-Corporal A. A. Wortley, 2/4th K.O.Y.L.I. killed in action, November 4th, 1918, in France.

“I often pause to think, dear son,
And wonder how you died.
With no one near who loved you dear,
Before you closed your eyes.

You nobly did your duty,
And like a hero, fell;
Could I have held your drooping head,
And heard your last farewell.”

From his sorrowing Mother, Brothers and Sisters.
20, Hotel Street.

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby, 12/7/2018