Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Frederick John Winder Taverner, a clergyman of the Church of England, born 5th October 1868 in Skegby, Nottinghamshire and his wife Frances Emma Taverner (nee Turner, married on the 12th August 1896 in St. Peter’s Church, Hayling Island, Hampshire), born 1866 in Hayling Island, Hampshire. Arthur Frederick was born on the 25th July 1897 in Loughborough, Leicestershire and was baptised on the 22nd September 1897 in All Saint’s Church, Loughborough, he had one sibling, Roger Lewin, born 28th March 1899 in Upton on Severn, Worcestershire, in March 1901 the family home was at The Cottage, Upton on Severn. In April 1911 Arthur was absent from the family home at 27, Empingham Road, Stamford, Lincolnshire, residing there was his father, a clergyman of the established church, his mother and siblings Geoffrey Winder, born 1904 in Upton on Severn and Violet Audrey, born 28th October 1906 in Stamford. Arthur’s father died on the 3rd November 1947 in Uckfield, Sussex, age 79 and his mother died on the 26th September 1957 at Birdhurst Nursing Home, Croydon, Surrey, age 91.
Arthur was educated at Stamford Grammar and Oakham School’s between 1909 and 1915. At the latter school he gained his first eleven, and first fifteen colours, and he was also a prefect during his last year. He was given a commission in the 9th Battalion of the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry in September 1915, and embarked for France in June 1916. On the 25th July, his nineteenth birthday he was transferred to the 1st Battalion. He was hit by a machine gun bullet whilst in command of a working party on the night of the 10th October 1916, dying from his injuries the following day in Albert, France.
Arthur’s Army enlistment documents were not researched, and as such all that is known of his military service is that he was commissioned into the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, and was posted as a 2nd Lieutenant to the 9th Battalion of the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry and with this unit he first entered the theatre of war in France in 1916. He was subsequently transferred to the 1st Battalion King’s Shropshire Light Infantry and it was while serving with this unit that he died from wounds received in action during October 1916. He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
The War Diary records: 10 Oct-16 – TRENCHES SOUTH EAST OF GUEDECOURT. 4:00am to 4:00am. Trenches shelled intermittently during the day. Total casualties during the day 12 men wounded. A communication trench is dug between support and front line during the night by 50 men each of “B,” “C” and “D” Companies. A memorial tablet to the memory of the 4 officers, 3 non commissioned officers and 24 men who fell during the successful assault on the QUADRILATERAL 18/9/16 is put up on the ground where the attack took place.
The War Diary records: 11 Oct-16 – TRENCHES SOUTH EAST OF GUEDECOURT. 4:00am to 11:00pm. Fairly quiet. At 10:30pm “A” and “C” Companies move up to the support line vide Brigade memorandum attached. Battalion in forward positions by 1:00am.
The War Diary records: 12 Oct-16 – TRENCHES SOUTH EAST OF GUEDECOURT. 4:00am to 4:00am. Battalion detailed to support the 2nd YORK & LANCASTER REGIMENT in an attack on the German positions. Brigade Operation Order No.111 and Battalions Operation Order No.40 attached. Zero hour fixed at 2:05pm. The object of this attack was to improve our position for a further attack on the main LE TRANSLOY line. This operation was unsuccessful owing to hidden Machine Guns being left in advance of our artillery barrage; in spite of this the Battalion successfully accomplished its task of occupying our front line when the leading Battalion advanced to the assault. That night the Battalion was relieved by the 8th BEDFORDSHIRE REGIMENT, the majority of the men being clear of the line by 4:00am and moved back into reserve to trenches North of GUINCHY. During these operation 2nd Lieutenant E. M. HANNAH, MC, J. K. MYLIUS, F. A. TAVERNER, Lieutenant J. M. L. GROVER, Company Sergeant Major’s JONES and JOHNSON are wounded. About 55 Non Commissioned Officers and men became casualties. Captain E. G. JAMES awarded the DSO and 9109 Company Sergeant Major DENYER awarded the Military Cross. 2nd Lieutenant’s H. H. BUCKLEY and A. D. KERSEY join the Battalion.
The War Diary records: 18 Oct-16 – NORTH OF GUINCHY. 4:00am to 4:00am. Quiet day. At dusk two carrying parties to the front lines provided, each composed of 20 men. Lieutenant E. BIRD admitted to Field Ambulance. 2nd Lieutenant’s J. K. MYLIUS and A. F. TAVERNER reported died of wounds received on 12/10/16.