Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas North, a wagon builder, born 1851 in Leicester and his wife Alice Henrietta North (nee Peberdy, married in the 2nd quarter of 1872 in the Leicester district), born 1852 in Leicester, Arthur Gregory, was born in the 1st quarter of 1888 in Wigston, Leicestershire, his siblings were, John William, a shoe trade apprentice, born 1873, Thomas Henry, a shoe trade worker, born 1875, the latter two siblings were both born in Leicester, Sarah Eleanor, a shoe trade worker, born 1877, Edith Ann, a schoolgirl, born 1879, Ethel Alma H., a schoolgirl, born 1882 and Florence Louisa, a schoolgirl, born 1885 the latter four siblings were all born in Wigston, Leicestershire, in April 1891 the family home was at Star Terrace, Clarkes Road, Wigston Magna, Leicestershire. In March 1901 Arthur was employed as a boot and shoe trade worker and was residing in the family home at 17, Bassett Street, Wigston Magna, Leicestershire together with his father, a wagon builder, his mother and siblings, Sarah, an elastic web trade worker, Edith, a hosiery trade seamer, Ethel, a shoe trade fitter, Florence, a biscuit trade packer, Jonathan Shirley, born 1892 and Hilda May, born 1893, the latter two siblings were both born in Wigston Magna, Leicestershire. In April 1911 Arthur was absent from the family home at 22, Garden Street, South Wigston, Leicestershire, residing there was his widowed mother and siblings, Ethel, a shoe trade worker, Florence, a laundry worker, Jonathan, a shoe trade laster and Hilda, a shoe trade skiver, also residing in the family home were Arthur’s nieces, Gladys Lizzie, a schoolgirl, born 1900 in Leicester and George, a schoolboy, born 1903 in Great Wigston, Leicestershire. Arthur attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement of 9 years with the Colours and 3 years in the Reserve on the 31st July 1905 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as Wigston, Leicestershire and his age as 18 years and 5 months. He gave his trade or calling as shoe hand. He confirmed that he was currently serving with the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment (Militia). He gave his father, Thomas North of 19, Midland Cottages, Wigston, Leicestershire, his brother, Shirley and sisters Louisa and Ethel as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 5¼ inches in height, weighed 108½ pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 31½ and 33½ inches. His complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was light brown and he had grey eyes. It was noted that he had scars on his right loin about 3½ inches from his spine, and a small scar on the same level almost immediately over his spine. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for Army service. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 7719 on the 2/8/05 – 31/10/05. Posted to the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment at Colchester on the 31/10/05 – 21/9/06. Granted Messing Allowance on the 28/2/06. Posted to the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment at Shorncliffe on the 21/9/06 – 6/11/07. Granted 1st Good Conduct Badge on the 31/7/07. Posted to the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment of the 6/11/07. Embarked aboard H.T -?- on the 6/11/07 – 28/11/07. Belgaum, India on the 30/11/07 – 5/3/11. Passed his Army Certificate of Education 3rd Class on the 25/8/09. -?-, India on the 6/3/11 – 3/2/13. Bareilly, India on the 11/2/15 – 14/3/13. Ranikhet, India on the 19/3/13 – 20/10/13. Bareilly, India on the 24/11/13 - -?-. Transferred to the Army Reserve on the 4/4/14. Mobilized on the 5/8/14. Posted on the 5/8/14. Embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France of the 9/9/14. Killed in action on the 25/10/14. Arthur was awarded the 1914 Star, British and Victory Medals. The following information was provided by Arthur’s mother on the 23rd April 1919, and was witnessed and signed by C. W. Weston, Vicar of the Parish of South Wigston, The Vicarage, Glen Parva, Leicestershire on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, Thomas North, deceased. Mother of soldier, Alice Henrietta North of 22, Garden Street, South Wigston, Leicestershire. Full blood brothers of soldier, John William, age 48 of 25, St. Lawrence Road, Foleshill, Coventry, Warwickshire, Thomas Henry, age 45 of 37, Wilberforce Road, Leicester, Jonathan Shirley, age 28 of 22, Garden Street, South Wigston, Leicestershire. Full blood sisters of soldier, Edith Ann Thacker, age 40 of 5, Garden Street, South Wigston, Leicestershire, Ethel North, age 36 of 22, Garden Street, South Wigston, Leicestershire, Hilda May, age 26 of 22, Garden Street, South Wigston, Leicestershire, Florence Louisa Coleman, age 38 of 15, -?- Street, South Wigston, Leicestershire. Arthur’s surviving service documents are in a very 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: 25 Oct-14 – Battalion relieved the West Yorkshire Regiment on the 21st October at the Chemical Factory at Rue du Bois, the Germans had attempted to rush the trenches at dawn, but were beaten back with great loss, shelled intermittently all day. 2 Platoon of “D” Company were driven out by enfilade fire at about 9.00am, but retrieved the position by dusk, ordered to retire during night. Trench line was reinforced by 1 Company East Yorkshire Regiment and 2 Platoons of the Rifle Brigade during the day. “A” Company’s line was not seriously attacked. Casualties two Officers wounded, twenty two Other Ranks killed, sixty eight wounded and ninety eight missing.
On Saturday November 28th 1914 The Leicester Chronicle and Leicestershire Mercury published the following article under the heading. “BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS.” – DEATHS. NORTH. Pte. A. North, 7719, C Company, 1st Leicesters, killed in action Nov. 9th, 1914, beloved son of Mrs. North and late Thomas North, Garden Street, South Wigston, aged 28. “Into thy hands, O Lord.” In the same issue the following further article was published under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL ROLL OF HONOUR. – BROTHERS WHO DIED FOR KING AND COUNTRY. We have been furnished with the following particulars of casualties to local men: – Two brothers, whose home was at Drayton, Leicestershire, have been killed fighting for their country. One was Arthur Edward Stokes, an Able Seaman (Reservist), who was on the Good Hope, lost on November 1. He was aged 25. His brother, Private Edgar Stokes, also a Reservist, of C Company, 1st Northamptonshire Regiment, was killed in action at Ypres on October 31. He was aged 27, and was formerly in the Birmingham City Police force. Their father, Mr. G. T. Stokes of Drayton, writes notifying those of the sad loss, and adds with reference to the soldiers and sailors generally. “We ought to be proud of our men’s splendid conduct, and of their cheerful and enduring pluck.” Private A. North, 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, was killed in action on November 9th. He had served 10 years in the Regiment, including seven in India. His mother resides at 22, Garden Street, South Wigston.