Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Arthur North, a general labourer, born 1859 in Nottingham, and his wife Sarah North (nee Hollingworth, married in the 4th quarter of 1880 in the Loughborough, Leics. district), born 1861 in Loughborough, Leics. Arthur was born on the 11th November 1889 in Loughborough, Leics., his siblings were, Edward, a schoolboy, born 1881, Jane, a schoolgirl, born 1882, Sarah, a schoolgirl, born 1884, Lilian, a schoolgirl, born 1886 and Lavinia Emily, born 1887, all his siblings were born in Loughborough, Leics., in April 1891 the family home was at Conery Passage, North Street, Loughborough, Leics. In March 1901 Arthur was residing in the family home at 116, Station Street, Loughborough, Leics., together with his father a horticultural builder’s labourer, his mother and siblings, Lilian, a Griswold knitter. Lavinia, Harry, born 1892, Catherine, born 1894, Elizabeth, born 1894, Evelyn Mary, born 1896 and Isaiah, born 1898, the latter five siblings were all born in Loughborough, Leics.
The background relating to the circumstances in which Arthur lost his life are as follows; HMS Hampshire was assigned to the 7th Cruiser Squadron in January 1915 and was detached in November to escort shipping in the White Sea. She returned home in time to participate in the Battle of Jutland on 31st May 1916 with the 2nd Cruiser Squadron. During the battle she was never actually engaged and only fired four salvos at the German II Scouting Group that fell well short of their targets in addition to shooting at illusory submarine periscopes throughout the day. Immediately after the battle, she was ordered to carry Lord Kitchener from Scapa Flow on a diplomatic mission to Russia via the port of Arkhangelsk. Due to the gale force conditions, it was decided that HMS Hampshire would sail through the Pentland Firth, then turn north along the western coast of the Orkney Islands. This course would provide a lee from the strong winds, allowing escorting destroyers to keep pace with her. She departed Scapa Flow at on the 5th June 1916 at 4.45 pm and about an hour later rendezvoused with her two escorts, the Acasta class destroyers HMS Unity and HMS Victor. As the ships turned to the northwest the gale increased and shifted direction so that the ships were facing it head on. This caused the destroyers to fall behind HMS Hampshire. As it was considered unlikely that enemy submarines would be active in such conditions, Captain Savill of HMS Hampshire ordered HMS Unity and HMS Victor to return to Scapa Flow. Sailing alone in heavy seas, HMS Hampshire was approximately 1.5 miles off the mainland of Orkney between Brough of Birsay and Marwick Head at 7.40 pm when an explosion occurred and she heeled to starboard. She had struck one of several mines laid by the German mine laying submarine U.75 on 28th/29th May 1916, just before the Battle of Jutland. The detonation had holed the cruiser between bows and bridge, and the lifeboats were smashed against the side of the ship by the heavy seas when they were lowered. About 15 minutes after the explosion, HMS Hampshire sank by the bows. Of the 655 crewmen and 7 passengers aboard, only 12 crewmen on two Carley floats managed to reach the shore alive; Kitchener and his staff were lost.