Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of George Edward Pennington a wool sorter, born 1856 in Manningham, Yorkshire, and his wife Millicent Pennington (nee Pigott, married on the 24th May 1892 in St. Peter’s Church, (Bradford Cathedral), Bradford, Yorkshire), a wool yarn reeler, born 1872 in Bradford, Yorkshire. Arthur was born in the 2nd quarter of 1896 in Bradford, he had a half blood sibling, Fred, a shoe and slipper trade polisher, born 1886, in Bradford, Percy, born in the 3rd quarter of 1894, Edward, born 1899 and May, born 1900, the latter three siblings were all born in Bradford, and Kate, born 1901 in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, also residing with the family was his maternal grandmother Ellen Pigott, a shoe trade jobber, born 1843 in Blythe, Nottinghamshire, in March 1901 the family home was at 25, Regent Street, Melton Mowbray. In April 1911 Arthur was employed as an apprentice moulder and was residing in the family home at 33, Burton Street, Melton Mowbray, together with his father, a wool sorter, his mother and siblings, Percy, an apprentice moulder, Edward, a schoolboy, May, a schoolgirl, Kate, a schoolgirl and Norman, born 1911 in Melton Mowbray, also residing with the family was his maternal grandmother, Ellen Pigott. His elder brother Percy also fell in action.
The War Diary records: 22 Aug-18 - Q.16.a.3.3. The whole day was quiet. Companies remained in their positions of the 21st.
On Friday October 26th 1917 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR” – MELTON SOLDIERS’ PROMOTION. Lce.-Sergt. Arthur Pennington, of the 2/5th Leicester’s, has just been promoted to Sergeant. He is the third surviving son of Mr and Mrs George Pennington, Mill Street, Melton Mowbray. His eldest brother, George is a Corporal in the Royal Fusiliers.
On Friday April 5th 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – A FALSE RUMOUR. – We are asked by Mr. Pennington, of Mill Street, to deny a rumour which has been prevalent in the town this week that his son Sergt. Arthur Pennington, had been killed in the great battle last week. Mr. Pennington received a letter from his son on Tuesday which was dated on Good Friday, stating that he had survived the German attack and was safe and well. We are delighted to be able to make the announcement.
On Friday September 27th 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – MELTONIANS KILLED. Mr. and Mrs. George Edward Pennington, 40, Mill-street, Melton Mowbray, have had the sad misfortune to lose another son in the war, the victim on this occasion being their sixth son, Sergt. Arthur Pennington of the Leicestershire Regiment. Not having heard from him for about five weeks they entertained grave fears that something untoward had happened, and last Friday evening they were shown a letter which Pte. F. Hack had written to his parents, who live in Pall Mall, in which he stated that Sergt. Pennington was killed in action on August 22nd. This information was officially confirmed on Tuesday afternoon by a notification from the Infantry Record Office, Lichfield. Deceased who was 22 years of age last March, was a member of the local Boy Scouts. After leaving school he obtained employment at the Holwell Iron Works, and remained there until enlisting in the Territorial’s on the 21st December 1914. He went through the Irish Rebellion and proceeded to France on the 27th February, 1917, being afterwards transferred to one of the Leicestershire Battalions of Regulars. The last letter he wrote reached his parents the day after he was killed, and in it he said he was expecting shortly to come home on leave. His brother, Pte. Percy Pennington, Leicester’s, was killed in action on July 23rd, 1915 and his younger brother, Pte. Edward Pennington, also of the Leicester’s, is still in hospital in Calais suffering from the effects of an accident sustained on the 3rd July. It appears he was lighting a fire in the trenches when a cartridge which happened to be underneath exploded, and blew the ashes into his eyes. He had previously been wounded 12 months last April. Deceased’s eldest brother, Corpl George Pennington, Royal Fusiliers, was wounded last November, and is still in England.
On Friday October 11th 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – THE LATE SERGT. PENNINGTON. Mr. and Mrs. George E. Pennington, 40, Mill-st., Melton Mowbray have received the following letter concerning the death of their son, Sergt. Arthur Pennington, Leicester’s, who was killed on August 21st, as reported in our issue of the 27th ult. “Dear Mrs. Pennington, I received your letter dated September 13th regarding news of your son, and I expect by this time you will have received information concerning him, which I am only sorry to say, is very sad indeed. I am also very sorry you have been kept so long in ignorance regarding his sad end, which on the 1st August. He was a fine fellow and a great pal of mine; in fact his loss to me was like that of a brother. We both joined this battalion on the same date, after being at Calais for a good period, and although his services with this battalion was very short I can assure you he was not only liked, but loved by all ranks. I am asked by our Company Commander (Lieut. Cooper) to express the deepest sympathy of all officers, N.C.O.’s, and men of his company in your very sad bereavement. I was very close to him when it happened, and the only consolation I can give you is that he suffered no pain, for death was instantaneous. It was very hard for me to see it happen, and the parting was very hard to bear after going about like brothers for so long. I trust you will keep up a brave heart, and let us hope that the great sacrifice of such as your dear son will not be in vain. Please accept my deepest sympathy in your great loss, and believe me to be, yours respectfully (Sergt.) A. Hill. P.S. I wrote you on the 22nd August, but the letter must have got lost if you have not received it by this time”