Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Henry Prew, a Police Constable, born in the July quarter of 1853 in Church Lawford, Warwickshire and baptised on the 29th June 1856 in St. Peter’s Church, Church Lawford (son of John Prew, 1816-1890 and Emma Clarke) and his wife Maria Prew (nee Carter, married in the October quarter of 1884 in the Blaby, Leicestershire district), born in the October quarter of 1855 in Burbage, Leicestershire (daughter of Edward Carter, 1822 and Charlotte Robinson, 1826). Arthur was born in the January quarter of 1895 in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, his siblings were, Herbert Harry, a wool trade hosiery worker, born in the January quarter of 1887 in Leicestershire and baptised on the 2nd January 1887 in the Church of St. Mary & St. Hardulph, Breedon on the Hill, Leicestershire, Emma, born in the July quarter of 1888 in Leicestershire and baptised on the 2nd September 1888 in the Church of St. Mary & St. Hardulph, Breedon on the Hill, Ada, born in the January quarter of 1890 in Bagworth, Leicestershire and baptised on the 2nd March 1890 in the Church of The Holy Rood, Bagworth, Maud, born in the July quarter of 1891 in Leicestershire and baptised on the 9th August 1891 in St. Peter’s Church, Thornton, Leicestershire and Harold, born in the October quarter of 1897 in Melton Mowbray, in March 1901 the family home was at 39, Thorpe Road, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. In April 1911 Arthur was employed as a coal miner and was residing in the family home at 77, Forest Road, Hugglescote, Leicestershire together with his father, a police pensioner, his mother and siblings, Herbert, a coal miner and Harold, a coal miner.
Arthur’s army service enlistment documents do not survive, therefore the currently available information pertaining to his military service has been obtained from the following sources: - 1921 HMSO Publication, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914 - 1919, WW1 Service Medal and Award Rolls, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Registers.
Enlisted/Attested in Leicester into the Regular Army. Date not known.
Joined. At place and date not known.
Posted. To Royal Regiment of Artillery. Gunner. Date not known.
Allotted the Regimental Service number L/29092.
Posted. To Royal Field Artillery. Gunner. Date not known.
First entered the theatre of war in France after the 31st December 1915.
Posted. To “D” Battery, 160th (Howitzer) Brigade.
Wounded in action. In the Field.
Died of wounds. In the Field. 12/8/16.
Buried in Becourt Military Cemetery, Becordel-Becourt, Somme, France.
Awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In the event of his death, Arthur nominated his mother, Maria as his sole legatee.
On Thursday August 17th, 1916, The Leicester Daily Mercury published the following article on page 4, under the heading. – LEICESTER COUNTY POLICEMAN KILLED. – A report has been received by the Leicestershire County Police that two of their former comrades, ex P.C. Percy A. Smith (Oadby) and P.C. Arthur Prew (Central Office) have been recently killed in action in France. They were in the Royal Field Artillery.
On Saturday August 19th, 1916, The Leicester Mail published the following article on page 3, under the heading. – TWO COUNTY POLICEMEN. – Referring to the loss of two ex-county policemen. Arthur Prew (Ravenstone) and Percy A. Smith (Oadby), ex P.C. George E. Collis (Coleorton), in a letter to Inspector Dobney (Coalville) says they were buried in a dug-out. They were got out as soon as possible, but Prew died shortly afterwards, and Smith subsequently expired from shock. He adds that the battery has sustained a great loss by their death, and it is keenly felt by officers and men alike. They were buried in a cemetery about a mile behind our position, in a beautiful valley between two woods.
On Friday August 25th, 1916, The Leicester Mail published the following article on page 5, under the heading. – EX-P.C. ARTHUR PREW. – (A photograph accompanied the article). – Gunner Arthur Prew, (21) who died from wounds received at the guns, was before the war stationed at the County Police Office in Leicester. His mother who lives at Ravenstone, has received a letter from a chaplain, who writes that “one comforting thought in the midst of your great sorrow is that he died a true soldier for his King and country.” Prew is the tenth man from Ravenstone who has made the supreme sacrifice. His late father was a policeman at Hugglescote for many years.
[recognitum XIX-VII-MMXXIII]

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday August 25th, 1916:

TWO POLICEMEN KILLED

ONE A RAVENSTONE MAN

Police-Inspector Dobney, of Coalville, has received a letter from P.C. George E. Collis, lately stationed at Coleorton, where his wife and children still reside, but who is now serving at the Front, describing how two members of the Leicestershire Constabulary were recently killed in action.

Collis writes:- “Excuse me for not writing to you before, but it with deep regret that I now send you such bad news. For the last week, we have been under rather heavy shell fire, but have been extremely lucky until last evening (August 11th) when about 6 o’clock, they scored on one of our dug-outs, and buried two of our comrades – Arthur Prew, of Ravenstone, and A. Smith, who was stationed at Oadby. They were got out as soon as possible, but Prew died shortly afterwards through several injuries to the lower parts of his body. Arthur was badly injured about the legs, and his wounds were dressed on the spot. I assisted to take him to the dressing station. The poor chap was conscious the whole time, up to when we left him, and then the sad news came to us this morning that he died from shock. We are all extremely sorry, as we have sustained a great loss to the battery – men that cannot be replaced at any time. I am sure it is keenly felt by both officers and men. We buried them this morning in a cemetery about a mile behind our position, in a beautiful valley, which runs between two woods. I can’t give you the name of it. We shall be extremely obliged if you will convey to Mrs Prew our deepest sympathy in her bereavement and tell her how sorry we are. It may be consoling to her to know that he died in action as a true Britisher. I am pleased to say that all the other boys are fairly well considering the strenuous times we have had for the last two months.”

P.C. A. Prew, before the war, was stationed at headquarters in Leicester. His mother resides at Ravenstone, and his father, who died a year or so ago, was formerly a policeman for some years at Hugglescote, retiring from there on a pension. The deceased was formerly a popular member of the Hugglescote Albion Cricket Club. Mrs Prew has also received a letter from a chaplain, as follows:-

“I am very sorry to tell you that your son, Gunner A. Prew, has died from wounds received at the guns last night. He was standing at his post by the gun when a shell came right through the screen. He was taken off at once to the dressing station but died during the early hours of this morning (12th August) from loss of blood and shock. One comforting thought in the midst of your great sorrow is that he died a true soldier for his King and country. Please accept my very deepest sympathy and may God help you to bear the heavy cross He has laid upon you. I buried your son this morning in a beautiful British cemetery situated in the middle of a wood. His grave will be cared for, as all graves are.”

LOCAL CHIT CHAT

Within a little over a year, Mrs Smith, of Swannington Road, Ravenstone, has lost her father, husband, and brother, the two latter having been killed in action. She is a daughter of the late P.C. Prew, of Hugglescote.

Coalville Times article - Friday May 7th, 1920

LOCAL CHIT CHAT

There has just been hung up in the office at the Coalville Police Station, and at every Police Station in Leicestershire, a handsomely-designed roll of honour, in oak frame, in connection with the war services of the Leicestershire County Constabulary. At the time war broke out, there were 202 men on the Force in the county and of these, no less than 70 joined the Colours. Ten made the supreme sacrifice, and two were totally incapacitated by wounds. Splendid portraits of the ten men who fell are given in the picture and it is noteworthy that three of them went from the Coalville district. They were P.C. L. Henson, who was stationed at New Swannington, and P.C.’s Clifford Page and T. Grainger, both of Coalville. Another of the killed was P.C. Prew, the son of a former Hugglescote constable. The names of all the men who served in the war appear on the Roll of Honour. Many of the men won war decorations and promotions. The members of the Force have defrayed the cost of the Roll of Honour by voluntary contributions.

Coalville Times article - Friday October 29th, 1920

RAVENSTONE WAR MEMORIAL

UNVEILED BY MAJOR HATCHETT, J.P.

IMPRESSIVE SERVICE

Few villages, perhaps in proportion to population, suffered more heavily in the war than Ravenstone, where on Sunday afternoon the unveiling took place of a memorial to 28 men of the parish who made the supreme sacrifice. The memorial consists of a cross of Weldon stone, 12ft high, with steps at the base and three panels in Swithland slate bearing the names of the men, and on the front panel appears the inscription

“In glorious memory of the unreturning brave 1914 – 1918”

The names of the fallen are as follows:

L.-Corporal J. C. Andrews, Pte. H. Walker, Corporal P. L. Smith, Pte. G. T. Andrews, Pte. J. Martin, Pte. W. Brooks, Corporal C. Fairbrother, Pte. J. Nicholls, Gunner A. Prew, Pte. S. Poole, Seaman W. Potter, Corporal J. Sinfield, Pte. C. T. Colver, Corporal J. Curtis, Pte. H. Congrave, Corporal J. Collier, L.-Corporal F. Marlow, Pte. J. Watson, Pte. R. Bodle, Pte. W. Glover, Pte. A. R. Brooks, Pte. G. Yates, Pte. J. Knifton, Pte. W. Hill, Pte. C. H. C. Wilson, Rfn. W. Knight, Sergt. J. Hancock and Pte. A. Fowkes.

The cross was designed by Mr T. H. Fosbrooke, architect, of Leicester, whose brother is the Squire of Ravenstone Hall, and it was executed by Mr J. H. Morcomb, also of Leicester. The cost was about £150, which has been defrayed by public subscription.

The memorial stands in a most eminent position in the picturesque churchyard, by the side of the pathway leading to the main entrance of the church, and the unveiling ceremony by Major Hatchett, J.P., in the autumn sunshine, with a huge concourse of people gathered around, formed a very impressive scene.

THE SERVICE

The proceedings commenced with a service in the quaint old church, which was packed to the doors, many, in fact, being unable to get in. The uplifting strains of the hymn, “O God, our help in ages past,” formed an appropriate commencement, and then followed a form of service, led by the Rector (the Rev. S. Dowling) in which proper Psalms (21 and 121), lessons (Wisdom iii, 1 – 9 and Rev. 21 1 – 7) and prayers were fittingly mingled, each serving to emphasise the leading note of the day. The anthem beautifully rendered by the choir, was taken from the words of the special lesson. “The Souls of the Righteous,” and the sermon was preached by the Rev. J. D. C. Wallace, the Master of Ravenstone Hospital, whose text was Philippians Ic 22v “With Christ, which is far better.” He said that for many centuries in peace and war time that church had stood at Ravenstone, but never before in its history had it seen what stood in its shadow to-day – a beautiful memorial inscribed with the names of nearly 30 Ravenstone boys who gave their lives in the war. Never before was there such a war, and never before was Ravenstone called upon to make such a sacrifice. “We need no monument,” he said, “They are our boys; we know their faces, know their generous dispositions and the fine spirit which sent them forth. All that is enshrined in our memories and nothing can deface it. We need no monument, but there is one outside because there will come after us generations who knew not out boys, and that monument will tell them in years to come what Ravenstone boys did in the hour of England’s peril.”

The memorial, he continued, was a symbol of their faith, of the greatest sacrifice of that Eternal Son of God, Who came from Heaven. It was that supreme sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross that inspired their boys to make their sacrifice upon the altar of patriotism, and it would be acceptable to God. There would be sad thoughts that day, but he asked them to let proud thoughts prevail over the sad ones. They should be proud because they were the parents and friends of such boys – proud because they were not found wanting in the crucial hour, and because a new glory had come to their homes whether it was castle or cottage, the glory of their boys. Then their thoughts should help them to look forward, because the boys had only just passed on before them, called to a nobler work, and presently they would follow them. Let them not also forget the boys who came back. They went to stop the cruel evil and oppression which was threatening the people of this country from abroad. They wanted to ensure a peaceful and happy life for those here at home, believing them to be worthy of it. It was for them to prove that worth during the rest of their lives. If they were to keep up their jealousies and petty grievances the boys would have fought in vain, and there would be no better England. The boys taught them charitableness, unselfishness, and through love to serve one another. Let them take up the task and as they stood around the memorial solemnly pledge themselves before God and their boys that they would fight uncharitableness and selfishness among themselves and try to be more brotherly men and more sisterly women, to stand together for peace and good-will at home as they stood together in awful peril of the war. “That,” he concluded, “is the best tribute we can pay to those gallant boys, and when they see and know that, they will know that they have not died in vain; that we are worthy for whom they did such great things, and they will rest in peace and possess their souls in patience until that glad day when we and they shall meet again in the blessed presence of that one God, the Father and Saviour of us all.”

After the sermon the hymn, “Ten thousand times, ten thousand,” was sung, during which a collection for the memorial fund realised £13/8/3.

THE UNVEILING

A procession was then formed of the choir, clergy, wardens and members of the Memorial Committee, which proceeded to the cross, singing the hymn, “Through the night doubt and sorrow.”

Relatives of the fallen were given a place prominence around the memorial, and the service of dedication, conducted by the Rector, opened with the singing of “When I survey the wondrous Cross.” Having performed the ceremony of unveiling, Major J. Hatchett, J.P., said, “Several years ago, the Rector called a meeting, which appointed a committee to consider and report upon a suitable memorial, to do honour to the memory of the men who died for their country in the great war. The committee were fortunate in having the kind advice and assistance of an eminent architect, who was a native of Ravenstone, and took great interest in the memorial, the result being the placing here of this beautiful monument. The architect’s name is Mr Thomas Fosbrooke, of Leicester, and we have to thank Mr Fosbrooke very much for what he has done. We have today taken part in a solemn service in that venerable church in which so many generations of our fathers have worshipped, and we now are privileged to be assembled here in this acre of sacred ground, the resting place of so many of our beloved dead, for the purpose of discharging the honourable duty of assisting at the dedication of this memorial erected by the people of Ravenstone to the blessed memory of 28 brave men, who loved their country, and gave their lives to save English men, women and children from tyranny and oppression. We all desire to show our unstinted appreciation and our unbounded admiration of the courageous spirit of those fearless men, who, when their country was wantonly attacked, considered it to be a sacred duty to defend it; and this memorial, which has been raised as a tribute of respect, will remind us and those who came after us, our children and our children’s children, of the undaunted courage and the undying fame of those men of Ravenstone who, whilst upholding the honour of the British flag, and sustaining the reputation of the British soldier, sacrificed their lives. We owe an eternal debt of gratitude to the men who went forth in full health and strength, leaving home, comfort, friends and relatives, to take their places in the battle line to fight in the righteous cause of freedom and justice, against the most cruel, vindictive and treacherous foe the world has ever known. Our sincere, straight-forward, unassuming, determined men, were unafraid and undismayed, although they knew that the Angel of Death was hovering over their path. Their loyal and valued services were very helpful to their country in the hour of her need. We had hoped to witness their return to receive a grateful nation’s recognition and thanks, but the inscrutable degree of Providence ordered it otherwise. They faithfully and manfully performed their duty, they died glorious deaths, they died for England, they died for all of us and the places on the field of honour, where they lie in warriors graves, are hallowed and sanctified by a nation’s grief, and watered by a nation’s tears. We deplore their loss; their splendid examples will remain; their glorious memories will endure. We thank God for such men; and if England’s sons maintain the courage, the devotion and the unselfish patriotism displayed by them, we have no fear for the independence of our race, or for the position of our country and empire amongst the nations of the world. We tender our sincere sympathy to their relatives, trusting that God’s blessing will rest upon them and lighten the burden of their bereavement. Ravenstone is proud of the ever-living memories and the noble deeds of her unreturning immortal heroes, who without fear faced the foe and walked into the valley of the shadow of death, to save the lives, the honour and liberties of those they left behind. These brave British soldiers sill live in our hearts and will not be forgotten; their name liveth for ever. We shall always mention with respect and reverence the names inscribed on this memorial stone, which has been raised to protect their memory, and preserve their story, and remain a lasting monument of their glory. Duty impelled them and they never faltered. There was no need for her to call them twice. The end they saw not, nor would have wished it altered. They took the cross, and made the sacrifice. God grant that we may be found worthy of them, in the days that are to be!”

The dedication of the monument was solemnly performed by the Rector and prayers were followed by the singing of the Doxology.

Two buglers then stepped to the front of the memorial and sounded the “Last Post” and whilst this was in progress, there flew up towards the heavens four homing pigeons released from the hands of the Rev. J. D. C. Wallace, beautifully symbolical of carrying the message of that day’s proceedings.

Many beautiful floral tributes were placed on the memorial by relatives and friends of the deceased men.

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 15/10/2017