No.17982, Private, Arthur PETTITT
Aged 24
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Arthur Pettitt was born in Castle Camps (Linton Q3-1892 3B:507), baptised in Castle Camps on 2nd February 1893, son of William and Elizabeth PETTITT
(née MYNOTT). 1901 census...Aged 8 he was at Castle Camps with his father William Pettitt [44] farm labourer; his mother Lizzie [41]; brother Alfred [21] born in Shudy Camps, farm labourer and his wife Ellen [18]; sisters Mary [15] and Emma [11]; brothers Frank [5] and Walter [2]. All except Alfred were born in Castle Camps. Brother Alfred enlisted in the Royal Horse Artillery on 8th October 1902 stating he was single. Transferred to Reserves in 1905, mobilised in 1914 and finally discharged having completed his 12 years in 1915 1911 census...Aged 18, a beast man at Catterton, Tadcaster, Yorkshire with the RHODES family His parents were at Bumpstead Road, Castle Camps with brothers Alfred ( now entered as single), Frank, (both farm labourers), Walter and George [9], sister Lilly [5]. They are all recorded now as born in Shudy Camps. All 9 siblings survive. His younger brother Walter was killed serving in France in the Machine Gun Corps in 1918 see here |
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He enlisted in Doncaster.
The war diary has several pages for the 1st day of the Battle of the Somme,but in summary they were part of the 64th Brigade, 21st Division, in action at Fricourt, attacking at zero with 9th K.O.Y.L.I. on their right.They took and held the enemy front trenches. Withdrawn next day having suffered 502 casualties. CWGC has 165 of the 10th Battalion killed, and 146 of them have no identified grave, being named on the Thiepval memorial. Shocking as it may seem, they lost fewer than their 8th or their 9th battalion.
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
