Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of George Iliffe, a bricklayer, born 1845 in Belgrave, Leicester, who was the son of William and Elizabeth Iliffe, and his wife Betsy Ann Iliffe (nee Wright, married in the 3rd quarter of 1874 in the Leicester district), a milliner, born 1854 in Leverton, Lincolnshire. Arthur Simpson was born in the 4th quarter of 1890 in Belgrave, his siblings were, Florence Ada, a tailoress, born 1875, George Harry, a shoe trade clicker was born in the 4th quarter of 1876 and William Percy, a shoe trade apprentice, born 1878, the latter three siblings were all born in Leicester, Alice Lydia, a schoolgirl, born 1879, John Alfred, a schoolboy, born 1881, Annie Elizabeth, a schoolgirl, born 1884, Frederick Charles, a schoolboy was born in the 4th quarter of 1885 and Sarah Ellen, born 1888, the latter five siblings were all born in Belgrave, in April 1891 the family home was at 13, Newtown Street, Belgrave. In March 1901 Arthur was residing in the family home at 13, Linford Street, Belgrave, together with his father, a bricklayer, his mother, a milliner, and siblings, Florence, a tailoress, George, a bricklayer, William, a shoe trade worker, Alice, a shoe trade machinist, John, a railway platelayer, Annie, a shoe trade machinist, Frederick a shoe trade worker, Sarah, a shoe trade worker, Edith May, born 1894 and Walter Leonard, born 1898, the latter two siblings were both born in Belgrave. In April 1911 Arthur was employed as a book binder’s apprentice and was residing in the family home at 13, Linford Street, Belgrave, together with his father, a bricklayer, his mother and siblings, George, a gardener, Annie a shoe trade machinist, Frederick, a shoe trade stiffening moulder, Sarah, a shoe trade machinist, Edith, a hosiery trade winder and Walter, a schoolboy. Arthur’s elder brother George Harry died, and another elder brother, Frederick Charles died of wounds received in action.
Arthur attested into the Territorial Force to serve (One year’s Embodied Service at Home) on the 31st August 1914 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as Belgrave, Leicester, his age as 23 years and 11 months and his trade or calling as bookbinder. He stated that he was unmarried. He gave his mother, Mrs. B. Iliffe of 13, Linford Street, Leicester as his next of kin. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 2444 on the 31/8/14. Posted to the 4th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment and Embodied Service commenced on the 31/8/14. Reported missing on the 11/5/15. Struck off strength of the Battalion on the 26/5/15. Extract from a German document dated 20/7/15, wounded and captured by the 5th Bavarian Regiment. Died of wounds in German Lines on the 11/5/15. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 31/8/14 – 1/3/15, 183 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 2/3/15 – 11/5/15, 71 days. Total service, 254 days. Arthur was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British and Victory medals. The following information was provided by Arthur’s father George Iliffe on the 7th May 1919, and was witnessed and signed by ? B. Disney, Vicar of Belgrave Vicarage, Leicester on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, George Iliffe of 13, Linford Street, Belgrave, Leicester. Mother of soldier, none. Full blood brothers of soldier, John Alfred Iliffe, age 38 with armed forces in India and Walter Leonard Iliffe, age 21 with 18th Aux. Bus Coy., France. Full blood sisters of soldier, Mrs. Florence Ada Cox, age 43 of 5, Somerville Road, Leicester, Mrs. Alice Lydia Mason, age 40 of 17, Garfield Street, Northampton, Mrs. Annie Elizabeth Roper, age 36 of 57, Law Street, Leicester, Sarah Ellen Iliffe, age 31 of 13, Linford Street, Belgrave, Leicester and Mrs. Edith May Johncock, age 25 of 13, Linford Street, Belgrave, Leicester. 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: 10 May-15 - Very busy working on VIGO STREET all day (50 men employed) until finished except flooring (ROYAL ENGINEER’S work). At 3.40pm a few shells near Battn HQ’s, retired to dug outs, nothing doing. Change taking place in line. 1st/4th LINCOLNSHIRE REGT moving into NOTTS & DERBY REGT sector, all Battn’s in Bde up near trenches. At 11.30pm 5 or 6 Germans (5th BAVARIAN INFANTRY) bombed E1. left, causing garrison, somewhat weakened by listening posts, who saw nothing, to quit, all in authority having been killed or wounded. Full report by C.O. attached. Marked A. Casualties 1 officer killed, 1 other rank killed and 8 wounded in E1.L. 1 other rank killed and 1 wounded in E1.R. Killed Capt H. HAYCOCK 2nd in command of C Coy in E1.L. during the bombing affair between 11.30 and 11.45pm, No 113 Sgt J. JACQUES C Coy in E1.L. during the bombing affair between 11.30 and 11.45pm, No 2545 Sgt W. LOVETT C Coy in E1.R., No 3018 Pte S. GREASLEY C Coy. Missing No. 2444 Pte A. ILIFFE C Coy when last seen was resting from work in E1.L. just before the bombing affair between 11.30 and 11.45pm. Wounded 2nd Lt G. E. F. RUSSELL, accidentally by bayonet, corner of E6 and E3., No. 2422 Pte L. O’DOWD C Coy, No.2131 Pte H. CHARITY C Coy, subsequently died of his wounds, No. 2809 Pte G. STORER C Coy, No. 3201 Pte W. HUFTON C Coy, No. 412 Pte F. GILL C Coy, No. 1915 Pte H. E. WILLIS C Coy, No 2429 Cpl W. READING C Coy, No.2431 L/Cpl A. GOADBY C Coy, No. 1327 Pte A. A. COPE C Coy, No. 1036 Pte J. FRANKLIN C Coy, No. 1502 Pte C. JOCOBS C Coy, subsequently died of wounds on the 11th May 1915, No. 1300 Pte W. Hawkesworth C Coy, subsequently died of his wounds on the 12th May 1915.
On Saturday May 29th 1915 The Leicester Chronicle and Leicestershire Mercury published the following article under the heading. “THE WAR.” – ROLL OF HONOUR. – A chum, writing to the mother of Private A. Iliffe, C Company, 1st/4th Leicesters, gives reason for believing that Iliffe, a well known Belgrave youth, is probably a prisoner, and not as at first feared, killed. Receiving an order from Captain Haylock, Iliffe disappeared, and as to what befell him nothing is definitely known. Immediately after dispatching Iliffe upon his errand Captain Haylock was fatally wounded, and the order given by the Captain remained unknown to others. Search between the lines of the respective armies revealed nothing, and Iliffe’s comrades hope and believe he is worth many a dead man yet.
On Friday June 11th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – ROLL OF HONOUR. – LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT CASUALTIES. – LOCAL TERRITORIAL’S KILLED AND WOUNDED. –
The following casualties in the 4th Battalion (T.F.) Leicestershire Regiment are reported from general Headquarters, under date 1st June:-
MISSING.
4th Battalion (T.F.).
Iliffe, 2444, Private A.