Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Herrman Arthur Attenborough a hosiery needle maker, born in the 3rd quarter of 1858 in Leicester and his wife Eliza Attenborough (nee Pegg, married on the 29th January 1884 in St. Peter’s Church, Belgrave), born on the 21st December 1862 in Belgrave, Leicester and baptised on the 27th May 1863 in St. Peter’s Church, Belgrave. Arthur was born in the 1st quarter of 1885 in Loughborough, Leicestershire and was baptised on the 5th April 1885 in All Saint’s Church, Loughborough, his siblings were, Richard Frederick, born in the 3rd quarter of 1887 and Walter George, born in the 2nd quarter of 1889, both his siblings were born in Hinckley, in April 1891 the family home was at 59, Druid Street, Hinckley. In March 1901 Arthur was employed as a shoe trade worker and was residing in the family home at 37, Dares Walk, Hinckley, together with his father, a hosiery needle maker, his mother and siblings, Richard, a hosiery trade worker, Walter and Alma Grace, born in the 2nd quarter of 1895 in Hinckley and baptised on the 16th June 1895 in the Parish Church, Hinckley. In April 1911 Arthur was absent from the family home at 91, Druid Street, Hinckley, residing there was his father, a needle maker, his mother and sister, Alma, a hosiery trade sewing machinist, meanwhile Arthur was employed as a shoe trade finisher and was residing in the family home at The Narrows, The Lawns, Hinckley, together with his wife Mary Ann Laura Attenborough (nee Robinson, married on the 19th January 1911 in Holy Trinity Church, Hinckley), born on the 24th May 1888 in Lime Kilns, Hinckley. Arthur and Mary had the following children, Walter Arthur, born on the 6th July 1911 and baptised on the 8th December 1918 in Holy Trinity Church, Hinckley, Frederick Herman, born on the 10th June 1913 and Albert John, born on the 21st March 1917 and baptised on the 22nd April 1917 in Holy Trinity Church, Hinckley, all the children were born in Hinckley. Arthur’s widow married James Jeffcoate on the 9th June 1918 in Holy Trinity Church, Hinckley, they resided at 22, Mansion Street, Hinckley. Mary later married William Corbett on the 13th December 1930 in St. Mary’s Church, Hinckley. Arthur’s two younger brothers both fell in action, Richard on the 15th September 1916 and Walter on the 25th September 1915.
Arthur enlisted/attested into the Militia or Reserve Division of the Militia on the 11th August 1903 in Hinckley, and was allotted the service number 8639. He gave his place of birth as Hinckley, Leicestershire and age as 17 years 7 months. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as shoe hand. He gave his present address as Hinckley, Leicestershire.
His medical examination took place in Leicester on the 12th August 1903 and recorded his apparent age as 17 years 7 months, that he was 5 feet 6 inches in height, weighed 111 lbs, had a chest measurement of between 30½ and 32½ inches, his complexion was described as fresh, he had blue eyes and his hair colour was light brown. He gave his religion as Church of England.
He gave his next of kin as his father, Harmon, 73, Druid Street, Hinckley.
During his period of military service the following events of note occurred:-
Attested. 11/8/03.
Posted. 3rd Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 11/8/03.
Commenced. 49 days drill. 11/8/03 – 7/10/03.
To. Royal Warwickshire Regt. Regular Army. 10/11/03.
Arthur’s surviving militia record amounts to a total of four pages, of which all pages relate directly to his militia service, and these are in good condition and offer an accurate overall description of some of the events that took place during his short period of militia service.
Arthur enlisted/attested into the Militia or Reserve Division of the Militia on the 5th October 1903 in Derby, and was allotted the service number 9781. He gave his place of birth as Loughborough, Leicestershire and age as 18 years 7 months. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as miner, currently employed at Stockingford Colliery, Nuneaton, Warwickshire. He gave his present address as 73, Druid Street, Hinckley, near Tamworth, Warwickshire.
His medical examination took place in Derby on the 6th October 1903 and recorded his apparent age as 18 years 7 months, that he was 5 feet 6 inches in height, weighed 116 lbs, had a chest measurement of between 31 and 33 inches, his complexion was described as fresh, he had light blue eyes and his hair colour was light brown. He gave his religion as Church of England.
He gave his next of kin as his father, Ermin Arthur, mother Elizabeth, 73, Druid Street, Hinckley, Warwickshire.
During his period of militia service the following events of note occurred:-
Attested. 6/10/03.
Posted. 3rd Bn. Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regt. (Sherwood Foresters). Pte. 6/10/03.
Discharged. References unsatisfactory.
Arthur’s surviving militia record amounts to a total of four pages, all of which relate directly to his military service, and these are in good condition and offer an accurate overall description of some of the events that took place during the short period of his militia service.
NOTE: Arthur had enlisted into the Militia on two occasions, it is difficult to understand his motives, and given the false representations made on the enlistment that was rejected, and also the two dates upon which he had enlisted make for much speculation as to the purpose of making two attempts to enlist into the Militia. It certainly appears that he went on to serve as a regular soldier with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, and was clearly a reservist upon the outbreak of war, hence the speed in which he found himself in the theatre of war, barely eighteen days after the commencement of hostilities.
Arthur’s Army enlistment documents do not survive, all that is known of his military service is that he had served with the 1st and 2nd Battalion’s of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment with the service number of 9719, and was mobilized as a reservist upon the outbreak of war and posted to the 1st Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment. It was with this Battalion that he first entered the theatre of war in France on the 22nd August 1914. He was on a date unknown, later transferred to the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, but nothing further is known of his military service until he was reported as having been killed in action on the 3rd September 1916. His body was never recovered and he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. He was awarded the 1914 Star with Clasp and Rose, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Arthur’s widow Mary was awarded a weekly Army Pension for herself and her three children of eighteen shillings and six pence to commence on the 19th March 1917.
The War Diary records: 3 Sept-16 – In the Trenches. At 7.00 am on the 3rd “A” and “B” Company moved up from MONTAUBAN ALLEY and took up their assembly positions with “C” and “D” Company in FOLLY TRENCH. Battalion Headquarters moved forward from here and took up their position 150 yards West of WATERLOT FARM, where they remained for the rest of the operations. While in assembly positions we suffered casualties from enemy’s shell fire, killed 1 other rank, wounded 8 other ranks.
At the Zero hour which was 12 noon the Companies passed Headquarters advancing very steadily in artillery formation towards their objective, the order of the Companies was “A” on the right, then “B” and “C” Companies, “D” Company which was on the left had to form a defensive flank facing North along ALE ALLEY.
At 1.40 pm a runner in from Officer Commanding “D” Company saying that he was held up by Machine Guns in HOP and ALE ALLEY’S and was digging in, in front of them.
At 1.43 pm a runner arrives from Lieutenant D. W. ARNOTT who was now commanding “B” Company, Captain WASEY having been wounded stating that he had reached his objective and was digging in. The objective of “A” “B” and “C” Companies was the BLUE line which they had to consolidate, it was an imaginary line running through the West end of GINCHY.
All Companies reached their objectives and dug in, “A” and “B” Companies were in touch but we got no news from “C” Company. The 2nd MANCHESTER REGIMENT were reported to be through the village.
At 4.21 pm we got a verbal message that the troops were leaving the village, when this was found to be true and the heavy casualties that we had suffered were known it was decided to relieve the Brigade.
At 11.00 pm Headquarters moved to FOLLY TRENCH and later back to POMMIERS REDOUBT and few men came in but the majority of them were holding the original objective in GINCHY, one detached group of “C” and “D” Companies under Captain H. P. WILLIAMS-FREEMAN and 2nd Lieutenant R. E. B. WILLIS hung on for 36 hours after the Brigade had been relieved. Another detached group of “A” Company under Lieutenant J. S. HARROWING and 2nd Lieutenant H. SULMAN hung on in the South end of GINCHY for 3 days after the Brigade had been relieved being unable to get any communication. This was of great value to the position of the troops in GULLEMONT.
The casualties during the period were rather heavy.
Officers: Killed. Lieutenant G. R. HAYES-SADLER, 2nd Lieutenant C. M. LORING.
Died of wounds. Temporary Captain W. S. de C. STRETTON.
Wounded. Captain C. WASEY, 2nd Lieutenant E. R. BOTTRILL, 2nd Lieutenant J. J. McKINNELL, 2nd Lieutenant F. W. WALTON, 2nd Lieutenant M. K. TWYCROSS, 2nd Lieutenant F. H. SIMMS.
Missing believed wounded. Temporary Captain A. FORBES, Lieutenant D. W. ARNOTT.
Other ranks. Killed 26. Died of wounds 7. Wounded 197. Missing 90. Total 320.