Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John William Coles an agricultural labourer, born 1865 in Great Gidding, Hunts., and his wife Sarah Coles, born 1875 in Barnwell, Northants. Arthur James was born in the 1st quarter of 1899 in Hanby, Lincs., his siblings were, William Henry, born on the 30th September 1892 in Oundle, Northants., Mildred Alice, born 1894 and Annie Elizabeth, born 1897, the latter two siblings were both born in Benefield, Northants., John Sidney, born 1898 in Holbeach, Lincs., in March 1901 the family home was at Easton Road, Burton Coggles, Lincs. In April 1911 Arthur was a schoolboy and was residing in the family home at Ridlington, Rutland, together with his father, now a farm shepherd, his mother and siblings, William, Annie, John, Maud Lilian, born 1903 and Horace Roland, born 1905, the latter two siblings were both born in Burton Coggles, Lincs., Doris May, born 1907 at Burley on the Hill, Rutland. Arthur embarked for France on the 3rd March 1918, and was taken as a Prisoner of War within one month of his landing. He died in the Prisoner of War hospital at Meschide, the cause of death was not known. His elder brother William Henry fell in action at Rue du Bois, France.