Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Jeffrey Bartlett a farm labourer, born in the 2nd quarter of 1859 in Ashby Magna, Leicestershire and baptised on the 10th July 1859 in St. Mary’s Church, Ashby Magna and his wife Elizabeth Bartlett (nee Harrold, married on the 28th May 1890 in the All Saint’s Church, Dunton Bassett, Leicestershire), born 1857 in Willoughby Waterlees, Leicestershire and baptised on the 17th January 1858 in St. Mary’s Church, Willoughby Waterlees. Arthur was born on the 19th January 1896 in Ashby Magna, Leicestershire. Arthur’s father died in the 1st quarter of 1901, aged 42. In March 1901 Arthur was residing in the family home in Dunton Bassett, together with his widowed mother, a washerwoman and his siblings Martha, born on the 25th October 1890 and baptised on the 15th December 1890 in St. Mary’s Church, Ashby Magna, Lilian Maud, born in the 2nd quarter of 1893 and baptised on the 4th June 1893 in St. Mary’s Church, Ashby Magna, the latter two siblings were both born in Ashby Magna and Cordelia, born on the 17th December 1898 in Dunton Bassett and baptised on the 7th July 1901 in All Saint’s Church, Dunton Bassett. In April 1911 Arthur was employed as a farm labourer and was residing in the family home at Dunton Bassett together with his widowed mother, a charwoman and his siblings Martha, a hosiery trade worker and Cordelia a schoolgirl.
Arthur enlisted/attested into the Regular Army on the 9th November 1914 in Leicester, and was allotted the service number 15860. He gave his place of birth as Ashby Magna, Leicestershire and age as 18 years 294 days. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as farm hand.
His medical examination took place in Leicester on the 9th November 1914 and recorded his apparent age as 19 years 294 days, that he was 5 feet 4½ inches in height, weighed 125 lbs, had a chest measurement of between 32½ and 34½ inches, his complexion was described as fresh, he had grey eyes and his hair colour was brown, his physical development was described as good. He gave his religion as Church of England.
He gave his next of kin as his mother, Elizabeth Bartlett, Dunton Bassett, Leicestershire
During his period of military service the following events of note occurred:-
Joined. Depot Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 9/11/14
Posted. To Fort Nelson. 19/11/12.
Transferred. To 3rd Bn. Leicestershire Regt. 19/12/14.
Embarked. At Southampton to join the 2nd Bn. Leicestershire Regt. 19/3/15.
Joined. 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regt. In the Field. 23/3/15.
Admitted. To 19th British Field Ambulance suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. 14/6/15.
Admitted. To No.2 General Hospital. 16/6/15.
Transferred. From No.2 General Hospital to Infantry Brigade Reinforcements, Le Havre. 25/6/15.
Rejoined. 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regt. In the Field. 10/7/15.
Appointed. Lance Corporal (unpaid). 4/9/15.
Killed in action. In the Field. Place not stated. 25/9/15.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 9/11/14 – 18/3/15. 130 days.
British Expeditionary Force, France. 19/3/15 – 25/9/15. 191 days.
Total Service. 321 days.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Arthur’s surviving service record amounts to a total of fourteen pages, of which only seven pages relate directly to his military service, and these are in very poor condition with much of the hand written information in some cases barely legible, damaged or missing entirely, however the content does offer at least a little descriptive insight into some of the events that took place during his period of military service.
Arthur’s widowed mother was awarded a weekly Army Pension of four shillings to commence on the 7th July 1916, this was increased on the 6th November 1918 to five shillings.
The War Diary records: 25 Sept-15 - At 5.30am the Battalion was in positions of readiness in accordance with orders in four lines opposite their objective with bombing parties, sandbag parties and carrying parties all arranged and in position. At 6.00am the first line got over the parapet quickly followed by the second, the left had to right form to get in line with the right as the trench ran back from a salient near the centre. As the first two lines went out the third and fourth filed into the vacant positions in the firing line. The gas affected a number of our men, and the smoke caused a dense fog and direction was difficult. Casualties began at once and the third line was ordered out to fill up gaps. Owing to the thick smoke it seemed likely that gaps would occur on the flanks and at 6.07am the fourth line was sent out with special instructions to maintain touch with the units on either flank. At about 6.10am the left were over the German parapet and our flag was seen flying on their lines. The left went forward with such dash that they outstripped the 2/8th GURKHAS and came in for a lot of fire from rifles and maxim guns from our right. This caused a good many casualties including all the officers and most of the NCO’s of “A” Company which was the extreme left. Undeterred the men went on, got over the uncut wire and reached the road with parties of the 2/8th GURKHAS and gained their objective. In the meantime our right had not fared so well. They went forward in good line under a heavy fire till held up by the German wire. A number of our men here were collected in the ditch in front of the German wire waiting for developments. Officer casualties. Killed Captain F. H. ROMILLY D.S.O., Captain E. C. DEANE, R.A.M.C. Died of wounds 2nd Lieutenant M. W. BROWNE. Wounded Lieutenant Colonel H. GORDON D.S.O., Captain W. C. WILSON, Lieutenant H. H. PHILLIPS, 2nd Lieutenant G. W. TANNER, 2nd Lieutenant H. H. HEMPHILL, 2nd Lieutenant V. E. ELLINGHAM, 2nd Lieutenant C. C. BAILEY, 2nd Lieutenant G. W. GROSSMITH. Slightly wounded Major F. LEWIS, Captain D. L. WEIR. Gassed 2nd Lieutenant W. WILSON. Missing and believed killed Lieutenant W. T. PICKIN, 2nd Lieutenant R. E. S. LODGE. Missing known to have been wounded 2nd Lieutenant C. G. WOODBOURN. Missing and no trace 2nd Lieutenant W. J. WILKINSON, 2nd Lieutenant E. A. WILKINSON, 2nd Lieutenant T. R. LONGCROFT. Rank and file casualties. Killed 72. Wounded 217. Gassed 42. Missing 96. Wounded slightly but did not quit Battalion 3. What was left of the Battalion were relieved from the front line by the 2/39th GARWHAL RIFLES at 6.30pm and moved into support and local reserve just in rear. Before the operations began the Battalion worked for a week in strengthening the front line and preparing the defences behind. Four very strong lines were constructed capable of resisting the enemy’s bombardment.
On Friday July 30th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “ROLL OF HONOUR.” LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT CASUALTIES. – The following casualties in the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment are reported from the Base under date 9th July.
KILLED. Withers, 11848, Private F.
WOUNDED. Bailey, 12000, Lance Corporal G. Barrett, 16424, Private C. Bartlett, 15860, Private E. Colbourne, 11399, Lance Corporal A.J. Corby, 9536, Private A. Escott, 11402, Private R. Fawcett, 16749, Private J.J. Fielding, 8898, Lance Corporal E.E. Gilbert, 8336, Private F. Goodmon, 16325, Private A.H. Goodger, 9338, Lance Corporal H. Johnson, 5035, Company Q.M.S. G. Moore, 6140, Lance Corporal H. Newton, 12004, Lance Corporal W. O, Brian, 9818, Private W. Wall, 7886, Private J.
MISSING. Ashcroft, 8307, Lance Corporal F. Burton, 11969, Provate F. B. Copley, 9333, Private H. Grant, 10554, Corporal F.W. MacDonnell, 7901, Private G. Sharp, 10175, Private T.W. Simpson, 8916, Lance Sergeant C.W. Smith, 11490, Private I. Stowe, 10180, Private W. Whittington, 15875, Private A.E.
On Thursday, October 7th, 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – News has been received at Dunton Bassett of the death in action, on September 25th-26th, of Lance-Corpl. ARTHUR BARTLETT, of the 3rd Leicester’s. He was amongst those who early in the war hastened to his country’s aid, and joined the Leicester Regiment. Great sympathy is felt for his mother, as she is a widow, and he was her only son.