Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Barwell a farm waggoner, born 1861 in Rolleston Lodge, Leicestershire and his wife Hannah Barwell, born 1868 in Sapcote, Leicestershire. Arthur Ernest was born in the 4th quarter of 1896 in Leicester, his siblings were Alice May, born 1889 in Huncote, Leicestershire, Mary Ann, born 1891 in Salford, Lancashire, John William, born 1894 in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, Harry Reginald, born in the 2nd quarter of 1899 in Leicester, Sydney Edgar, born 1905 in Three Pots, Leicestershire and Elsie Margaret, born 1908 in Cross in Hand, Leicestershire, in March 1901 the family home was at Sowe Fields, Walsgrave on Sowe, Warwickshire, this being situated within the Ecclesiastical Parish of St. Mary’s, Sowe. In April 1911 Arthur was absent from the family home at Welton, Daventry, Northamptonshire, residing there was his father, a farm waggoner, his mother, a laundress and siblings John, a farm labourer, Harry, a schoolboy, Sydney and Elsie, also residing in the family home was his widowed Grandmother, Mary Ann Grumble, born 1835 in Hoby, Leicestershire, Arthur was employed as a farm plough boy and was residing as a boarder with Henry and Alice May Carter in their family home at Mill House, Garthorpe, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. Arthur’s younger brother Harry fell in action in 1918.
Arthur attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement (For the Duration of the War.) on the 26th October 1915 in Leicester. He gave his home address as 40, Dunton Street, Leicester, his age as 19 years and 42 days and his trade or calling as general labourer. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He stated that he had served with the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment for a period of 3 months and 3 weeks. He gave his father, John Barwell of 40, Dunton Street, Leicester as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 6¾ inches in height, weighed 116 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 32 and 34½ inches. His physical development was described as good. He gave his religion as Church of England. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 22060 on the 25/10/15. Posted to the 10th (2nd Reserve) Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 26/10/15. Posted on the 13/11/15. Transferred to the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, and embarked from Devonport on the 14/5/16. Disembarked in Basra on the 13/6/16. Admitted to Hospital in Amara dangerously ill on the 4/7/16. Died in hospital from disease on the 12/7/16. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 25/10/15 – 13/5/16, 201 days. Persian Gulf, 14/5/16 – 12/7/16, 60 days. Total service 261 days. Arthur was awarded the British and Victory medals. The following information was provided by Arthur’s mother Hannah Barwell of Baguley Lodge, Waltham, Melton Mowbray on the 23rd June 1919, and was witnessed and signed by J. T. W. Claridge, Clerk in Holy Orders, Garthorpe Vicarage, Melton Mowbray on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, John Barwell. Mother of soldier, Hannah Barwell. Full blood brothers of soldier, W. Barwell, age 25 of Garthorpe, Melton Mowbray. S. Barwell, age 15 of Baguley Lodge, Waltham. Full blood sisters of soldier, Alice Barwell, age 30 of Garthorpe, Melton Mowbray. Mary Bateman, age 27 of Burton Lazars, Melton Mowbray. Elsie Barwell, age 11 of Baguley Lodge, Waltham. Arthur’s surviving service documents are in a very poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.