Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Whittington, a lime work’s labourer, born 1849 in Sileby, Leicestershire and his wife Mary Elizabeth Whittington (nee Turl, married in the 3rd quarter of 1873 in the Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire district), born 1855 in Sapcote, Leicestershire. Arthur Edward was a schoolboy and was born in the 4th quarter of 1887 in Sileby, Leicestershire, his siblings were, John William, a shoe trade clicker, born 1876 and Lizzie, a schoolgirl, born 1885, both his siblings were born in Sileby, Leicestershire, also residing with the family were Arthur’s maternal uncles, John Turl, a general labourer, born 1861 in Sapcote, Leicestershire and Job Turl, a shoe trade clicker, born 1868 in Sileby, Leicestershire, in April 1891 the family home was at Barrow Road, Sileby, Leicestershire. In the 4th quarter of 1897, Arthur’s mother died age 42, in the Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire district. In March 1901 Arthur was employed as a brickyard worker and was residing in the family home at King Street, Sileby, Leicestershire together with his widowed father, a lime work’s labourer and his siblings, Prudence, a Griswold knitter, born 1881 and Mary Hanna, a Griswold knitter, born 1883, the latter two siblings were both born in Sileby, Leicestershire, Lizzie, a Griswold knitter and Wilfrid, born 1895 in Sileby, Leicestershire. In April 1911 Arthur was employed as a brickyard labourer and was residing in the family home at Barrow Road, Sileby, Leicestershire together with his widowed father a lime work’s labourer, and his siblings, Mary, a Griswold knitter, Ethel, a domestic worker, born 1893 in Sileby, Leicestershire and Wilfrid, a brickyard labourer. Arthur enlisted into the Army on a Short Service engagement of 3 years with the Colours on the 9th November 1914 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as Sileby, Leicestershire and his age as 27 years and 17 days, and his trade or calling as brick maker. He gave his father, William Whittington of 66, Barrow Road, Sileby, Leicestershire as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 4¼ inches in height, weighed 144 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 34½ and 36½ inches. His complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was brown and he had grey eyes. He gave his religion as Primitive Methodist. He was pronounced fit for general service. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 15875 on the 9/11/14. Posted to the 10th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 18/11/14. Posted to the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment at Fort Nelson on the 19/11/14. Posted to the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment and embarked at Southampton to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 19/3/15. Landed on the 20/3/15. Reported missing after operations in the field on the 15/5/15. Regarded for official purposes as having been killed on the 15/5/15. The following information was provided on the 2nd May 1919 by Arthur’s sister Ethel Lockwood on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family). Father of soldier, none. Mother of soldier, none. Full blood brothers of soldier, Wilfrid Whittington, age 24 of 66, Barrow Road, Sileby, Loughborough. John W. Whittington, age 43 of 66, Barrow Road, Sileby, Loughborough. Full blood sisters of soldier, Eliza Sharp, age 41 of 9, Avenue Road, Sileby. Prudence Preston, age 38 of 60, Barrow Road, Sileby. Mary Hannah Preston, age 36 of 148, Barrow Road, Sileby. Lizzie Neal, age 33 of Main Street, Mountsorrel. Ethel Lockwood, age 27 of 106, King Street, Sileby.
The War Diary for today records. Battn rested during the day in LANSDOWNE POST. Moved off at 8.00pm. Battn took over front line from which the assault was to be made and by 9.30pm Coy’s were in position. Telephonic communication established with left and right and communication by officers ascertained between men on left and 2nd Div on my right. Eleven bridges were placed over the stream which runs parallel to position and about 20 to 30 yards in front of it, there with the existing four bridges made a total of 15 on the Battn front. It was not possible to place more bridges in position as the stream had been widened at many points by big shell holes, and the trunks and branches of fallen trees also blocked any other places where bridges might have been put. This getting of the bridges into position was an operation of great difficulty on account of the constant flares and bursts of fire from the enemy’s parapet. It was skilfully and quietly done with only two or three casualties. At 10.45pm two platoons were crossed over to the far side of the stream. Four more platoons were formed up ready, in the trenches to go forward and support the leading platoons. The remaining two Coy’s were formed up lying down behind the parados in close column of platoons ready to advance. Thus the whole Battn was got into its final position in order of attack and as close up as possible. This final formation was complete by 11.20pm and thanks to the able leading of Coy Commanders the movement was carried out in perfect order, and with no noise. At 11.30pm the leading platoons went forward to the assault closely supported by the second line. The lines in rear went forward to take up the positions vacated by the leading line. At the same time, or if anything some seconds before 11.30pm the enemy opened a very heavy fire with rifles and machine guns. A few minutes afterwards trench mortars and shrapnel searched the stream and the ground on both sides of it. The enemy threw from their parapet some kind of fire grenade which burst into fire on impact with the ground, and these with continuous flames of all colours, literally turned night into day. The leading men pushed on but only a few were able to reach near the enemy’s parapet. Each succeeding line came under a very heavy fire, the bridges got so blocked and the obstacles caused by fallen trees and shell holes so impeded movement that effective support could not be given. Thus the impetus of the assault was broken before it really got a proper start. The enemy’s parapet was fully manned and the accuracy and intensity may be understood from the fact that 8 officers, Platoon Commanders were killed or wounded. About 12 midnight reports were received from the front that our attack could not reach the German line, orders were then given to withdraw to our own trenches.
On Friday July 30th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “ROLL OF HONOUR.” LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT CASUALTIES. – The following casualties in the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment are reported from the Base under date 9th July.
KILLED. Withers, 11848, Private F.
WOUNDED. Bailey, 12000, Lance Corporal G. Barrett, 16424, Private C. Bartlett, 15860, Private E. Colbourne, 11399, Lance Corporal A.J. Corby, 9536, Private A. Escott, 11402, Private R. Fawcett, 16749, Private J.J. Fielding, 8898, Lance Corporal E.E. Gilbert, 8336, Private F. Goodmon, 16325, Private A.H. Goodger, 9338, Lance Corporal H. Johnson, 5035, Company Q.M.S. G. Moore, 6140, Lance Corporal H. Newton, 12004, Lance Corporal W. O’Brian, 9818, Private W. Wall, 7886, Private J.
MISSING. Ashcroft, 8307, Lance Corporal F. Burton, 11969, Private F. B. Copley, 9333, Private H. Grant, 10554, Corporal F.W. MacDonnell, 7901, Private G. Sharp, 10175, Private T.W. Simpson, 8916, Lance Sergeant C.W. Smith, 11490, Private I. Stowe, 10180, Private W. Whittington, 15875, Private A.E.