Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Francis Barber, a stay cutter, born in the July quarter of 1866 in East Haddon, Northamptonshire (son of Richard Barber, 1834 and Harriett Pywell, 1840) and his wife Harriet Jane Barber (nee Loakes, married on the 10th April 1890 in the Parish Church, Market Harborough, Leicestershire), born in the January quarter of 1864 in Oundle, Northamptonshire and baptised on the 3rd April 1864 in St. Peter’s Church, Oundle (daughter of Thomas Loakes, 1830-1903 and Ann Cooper, 1833). Arthur Edwin was born in the October quarter of 1895 in Market Harborough and baptised on the 29th September in the Parish Church, Market Harborough, his siblings were, Francis Richard Pywell, born in the April quarter of 1891 and baptised on the 12th April 1891 in the Parish Church, Market Harborough and Eustace Cooper, born in the October quarter of 1893 and baptised on the 5th November 1893 in the Parish Church, Market Harborough, both siblings were born in Market Harborough, in March 1901 the family home was at 3, Hearth Street, Market Harborough.
His older brother Eustace died on the 11th January 1917 from wounds received in action.
FAMILY NOTES: No trace can be found of the family whereabouts for the April 1911 census, but the family are recorded in the June 1921 census residing at 3, Hearth Street, Market Harborough.
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 Market Harborough into the Territorial Force. Date not known.
Joined. At Leicester. Date not known.
Posted. To Depot Leicestershire Regt. Pte. Date not known.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 3275.
Posted. To 1/5th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. Date not known.
First entered the theatre of war in France. 18/8/15.
Transferred. To 1/4th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. Date not known.
Under the Army Council Instruction (A.C.I. 2414/1916), published on the 23rd December 1916, that promulgated a new numbering system for all Territorial Force units, Arthur was allotted the regimental service number 235049.
Wounded in action, shotgun wound right buttock. In the Field. Date not known.
Died of wounds.10/5/17.
Buried in Calais Southern Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Headstone inscription. “We loved him most who knew him best.”
Awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In the event of his death, Arthur nominated his mother, Harriet Barber as his sole legatee.
On Thursday May 17th, 1917, The Leicester Daily Mercury published the following article on page 4, under the heading. – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – News has reached Market Harborough that Private Arthur Fox, of the Leicester’s, has died from wounds in Mesopotamia. The deceased was a well-known footballer, and played outside left for Harborough Town for several seasons. Private Edwin Barber, of East-street, and Private L. Chambers, of Logan-street, are also officially reported killed and Second-Lieutenant Wm. Harris, son of Mr. A. T. Harris, the manager of the Market Harborough Gasworks, is officially reported wounded and missing.
[recognitum I-IV-MMXXIV]

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Photograph courtesy of A. Garford 2020