Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Robert Andrews, a domestic coachman, born 1863 in Skelton, Yorkshire and his wife Annie Andrew (nee Kirk, married in the 4th quarter of 1888 in the Blything, Suffolk district), born 1868 in Durham. Arthur was born in the 1st quarter of 1889 in Wangford, Suffolk, he had one sibling, Robert William, born 1890 in Playford, Woodbridge, Suffolk, in April 1891 the family home was at The Haye, Lexden, Essex. In March 1901 Arthur was residing in the family home at 41, Belvoir Street, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire together with his father, a non domestic groom, his mother, a laundress and his siblings, Annie May, born 1892 in Essex, Charlotte, born 1894 in Old Heath, Essex, Emily, born 7th October 1894 and Edith Mary, born 1897, the latter two siblings were both born in Melton Mowbray. In February 1905 Arthur’s mother died aged 36, and was interred on the 9th February 1905 in Melton Mowbray. In April 1911 Arthur was absent from the family home at 41, Belvoir Street, Melton Mowbray, residing there was his widowed father, a domestic groom, and his siblings, Annie, a spinning trade worker, Emily a spinning trade worker, Edith and Charles Henry, a schoolboy, born 1905 in Melton Mowbray, Arthur was employed as a boot trade worker and was residing as a boarder at 25, Doctors Lane, Melton Mowbray, together with his sister Charlotte, a general domestic servant.
Arthur attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement (For the Duration of the War, with the Colours and in the Army Reserve.) on the 4th December 1915 in Melton Mowbray. He gave his home address as Doctors Lane, Melton Mowbray, his age as 27 years and 10 months and his trade or calling as shoe hand, his present employer being Smith, Faire and Co., Melton Mowbray. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his father Robert Andrews of 29, Belvoir Street, Melton Mowbray as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 7 inches in height, weighed 130 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 32 and 34 inches. His physical development was described as fair. After attestation on the 4/12/15 in Melton Mowbray he was transferred as Private, service number 25090 to the Army Reserve. Mobilized on the 9/2/16. Posted to the Leicestershire Regiment Depot on the 9/2/16. Posted to the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 11/2/16. Transferred to Patrington Camp on the 12/2/16. Transferred to Grantham on the 13/7/16. Transferred to the Machine Gun Corps and allotted service number 53241 on the 13/8/16. Embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 13/9/16. Arrived Base Depot on the 14/9/16. Posted to 117th Company Machine Gun Corps on the 28/9/16. Joined 117th Company Machine Gun Corps, in the field on the 29/9/16. Admitted to 100th Field Ambulance suffering from dermatitis and abscess on the 3/10/16. Discharged from 100th Field Ambulance on the 8/10/16. Rejoined 117th Company Machine Gun Corps, in the field on the 8/10/16. Admitted to 2/1st South Midland Field Ambulance suffering from dysentery on the 3/11/16. Admitted to the 24th General Hospital, Etaples on the 11/11/16. Invalided to England aboard Hospital Ship Antwerpen on the 18/11/16. Posted to No.1 Company Depot on the 18/11/16. Admitted to East Leeds War Hospital suffering from dysentery on the 21/11/16. Discharged from Hospital on the 24/2/17. Allowed Convalescent Hospital furlough from 24/2/17 to 5/3/17. Posted from No. 6 Battalion Machine Gun Corps, Grantham to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 10/7/17. Embarked from Southampton to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 11/7/17. Disembarked Havre on the 12/7/17. Posted to 226th Company Machine Gun Corps on the 11/7/17. Joined 226th Company Machine Gun Corps, in the field on the 12/7/17. Transferred to No. 9 Corps Infantry School on the 26/8/17. Rejoined 226th Company Machine Gun Corps, in the field on the 22/9/17. Transferred to attend an Artillery Course on the 9/10/17. Rejoined 226th Company Machine Gun Corps, in the field on the 12/10/17. Transferred to attend an Anti Aircraft Course on the 5/11/17. Rejoined 226th Company Machine Gun Corps, in the field on the 12/11/17. Transferred to Field Ambulance as a Servant to an Officer on the 24/11/17. Rejoined 226th Company Machine Gun Corps, in the field on the 29/11/17. Accompanied Officer to Field Ambulance on the 4/2/18. Rejoined 226th Company Machine Gun Corps, in the field on the 18/2/18. Reported missing and wounded in action on the 21/3/18. Died of wounds in captivity on the 12/4/18. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 4/12/15 – 12/9/16, 289 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 13/9/16 – 20/11/16, 69 days. Home Service, 21/11/16 – 10/7/17, 232 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 11/7/17 – 12/4/18, 276 days, Total service, 2 years 130 days. He was awarded the British War and Victory medals. The following information was provided by Arthur’s father Robert Andrews on the 31st May 1919, and was witnessed and signed by James Pacey, J.P., County of Leicester, The Limes, Melton Mowbray on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, Robert Andrews, of 29, Belvoir Street, Melton Mowbray. Full blood brothers of soldier, Charles Andrews, aged 14 of 29, Belvoir Street, Melton Mowbray. Full blood sisters of soldier, Annie May Lumb, age 28 of 3, Back Lane, Leeds. Caroline Broome, aged 26 of 3, Back Lane, Leeds. Emily Andrews, aged 24 of 29, Belvoir Street, Melton Mowbray. Edith Mary Hewson, age 21 of 21, Belvoir Street, Melton Mowbray.
A letter dated 7th August 1918 received by the War Office, London S.W.1. records the following:-
C.2. Casualties.P.M.29E.
The Officer in Charge of Records, M.G.C. Record Office, Westminster is informed that the report received on an official German List of Dead D/8/68 of the death of No. 53241 Pte. A. Andrews 30 Machine Gun Corps on the 12-4-18 in War Hospital at GUISE from shot-wound leg below knee (Buried Cemetery of Honour at GUISE Grave 1989) has been accepted as sufficient evidence for official purposes.
The next-of-kin should be notified accordingly and the usual papers prepared, if not already done.
(The place of burial, and the place, cause and date of death, should be communicated to the next-of-kin, when these particulars are furnished)
A letter dated the 23rd February 1922 records the following:-
Dear Sir,
I should be greatly obliged if you could let me know the following concerning my Brother the late Private Arthur Andrews. 53241. 30th Battalion Machine Gun Corps. What I should like to know is who is receiving the dependent money now that he is dead as he made me (his sister) next of kin and he lived with me for 12 years before he joined the Army and he has been a great loss to me, I hold in my possession a copy of the will which he made. Also his medals I have never heard anything about them. Hoping you will kindly let me know and oblige. Yours Faithfully
Mrs. C. Broome (Sister)
No. 1, Back Lane,
Beeston
Leeds
Yorkshire.
A note written on this letter states: Medals dispatched 22.3.22.
On the 15th March 1922 his Sister acknowledged receipt of the following articles of Arthur’s personal property, wallet, photos, letters, cards, knife, purse, testament, coins and currency note.
Arthur’s surviving service documents are in 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.
The War Diary records: 21 Mar-18 – ST. QUENTIN AREA. Very misty morning. At 4.40 am an intense enemy bombardment of great depth of forward Battle Zone and behind preceded an enemy infantry attack at about 8.00 am. This attack was made in great numbers and under cover of the very dense mist and gas the enemy was able to penetrate the forward zone, and as far as the Battle Zone. Casualties 13 Officers.
The War Diary records: 22 Mar-18 - ST. QUENTIN AREA. Enemy attack continued with great violence and guns were forced to retire from Battle Zone, fighting a rearguard action to HAM. Casualties.
On Friday May 17th 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – The official casualty lists issued during the past week have included a very large number of Leicester’s, also of names of local men belonging to other regiments. Among them have been the following relating to this district, all being privates unless otherwise stated:- From Yesterday’s list:- Killed. – Lancashire Fusiliers Keyte, 50207 W. E. (Melton Mowbray). Missing: Machine Gun Corps. – Andrews, 53241 A. (Melton Mowbray).
On Friday August 23rd 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – MELTON PRISONER OF WAR’S DEATH. We regret to learn that Mr. Robert Andrews, 29, Belvoir-st., Melton Mowbray, has been notified of the death of his son, Pte. Arthur Andrews, Machine Gun Corps, who was taken a prisoner by the Germans on the opening day of their great offensive – March 21st. In June Mr. Andrews received news that his son’s right leg had been amputated, and nothing more was heard of him until last week, when the following letter came to hand: “Machine Gun Corps Record Office, London, S.W. Sir, - It is my painful duty to inform you that a report has been received from the War Office notifying the death of No. 53241 Pte. Arthur Andrews, Machine Gun Corps, which occurred in the War Hospital at Guise (Germany) on the 12th April, 1918. The report is to the effect that he died of wounds, and was buried in a Cemetery of Honour at Guise, grave 1989. I am, sir, C. Campbell, Lieut. for Officer in Charge of Records.” Deceased who was 30 years of age, joined the Leicester’s over two years ago, and had been in France more than 12 months. Prior to joining up he was employed at Messrs. Smith, Faire, and Co’s boot and shoe factory.