No. 7285, Private, William George ARNOLD
Aged 31
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George William ARNOLD, born Fordham, on 23rd September 1883 [ Newmarket Q4-1883 3B:548] 1891 census…Aged 7 he was at Hall Farm, Little Bradley with his father Robert [35] a farm labourer born Fordham; his mother Mary Ann (née ROMANT) [34] born Swaffham Bulbeck; brother Charles W. [9] born Fordham; brother Samuel [4] born Little Bradley; sister Rosanna [2] and brother Joseph [2] both born Little Bradley. 1901 census… Now William George ARNOLD [17] he was a houseboy at Beech House, Exning, working for Harry Enoch the trainer. His mother was a widow and was at the Union Workhouse, Newmarket, a pauper, with sons Joseph [9] and Robert [7] both born Lit Bradley and daughter Louisa Edith [2] born Exning (most probably at Workhouse).His father had died towards the end of 1899. 1911 census… William George ARNOLD [28] he is at Grosvenor Yard with his widowed aunt Louisa BRADLEY, a private in the 1st Northamptonshire Regiment. His mother was at Manor Place, Newmarket (which was the eastern corner of the Grosvenor Yard/High Street junction) with his brother Robert and sister Edith. His mother was still there on the pension card. It appears that CWGC may have recorded or transcribed his age incorrectly as 42 instead of 32, but their information would probably have come from a relative.The original documents no long exist so to get an amendment it is necessary to get birth certificate and documentation to show that it is of the man in question. The Newmarket Journal reported that: "William had been a regular soldier, with 8 years service in India, before returning to England, where he became a railwayman in Nottingham, before re-enlisting in Bury St Edmunds. He was wounded on 3rd November,1914 but recovered to return to action". |
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The Newmarket Journal of 16th October 1915 reported:- NEWMARKET MAN KILLED IN ACTION- Private W.Arnold (Newmarket), of the Northamptonshire Regiment, was killed on May 9th 1915, in action,but his mother has only lately heard of the sad occurrence. Private W.Arnold had served eight years with his regiment in India, afterwards being employed as a railway porter at Nottingham. When war started he was called up and was wounded on November 3rd 1914. He again went to the front with his battalion and was killed on May 9th. Private Arnold was 32 years of age, and was much respected by all who knew him. His mother, Mrs. Arnold, of Grosvenor Place, has five other sons at the front. A truly horrific day for the 1st Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment, at Aubers Ridge, from the war diary: Everyone was up at daybreak completing last details and arrangements. We had a large amount of stores to carry such as scaling ladders, bridges, wire cutters, bombs, flags for showing progress, etc. The morning was fine and very clear and the gunners’ observation officer attached for the day to the battalion thought it a perfect morning for the artillery. At 5.00 a.m. sharp the bombardment of the enemy lines and fortified posts commenced from our guns behind – 18 pounders and 15 inch & 9.2 inch howitzers. The noise was terrific. This bombardment continued until 5.30 a.m. during which time the guns were playing on the various enemy batteries and fortified houses in the rear of the line. From 5.30 to 5.40 {artillery} fire was turned on turned on the enemy trenches which were sandbagged breastworks. The 18 pounder field guns playing on the barbed wire entanglements and cut gaps for our infantry assault. During this 10 minutes the men of our leading companies – “B” under Captain Dickson and “D” under Captain Farrar got over the parapet preceded by bombers, men carrying scaling ladders, etc. These companies advanced as close as possible to about 100 yards from the enemy parapet and there lay down until bombardment ceased. Again, at the same time two companies in the support trenches “A” and “C” under Captain Mylne and Captain Sir F Robinson, and battalion H.Q. moved from the supporting trenches to the fire trenches and thence over the parapet to support “B” and “D”. At 5.40 a.m. precisely the bombardment ceased and the battalion with the ROYAL SUSSEX rushed to the assault. Our first companies got close up to the German barbed wire and Captain Dickson and about 20 men reached a gap made by our guns in the trenches. There the men were all shot down, Captain Dickson being killed at once and also Captain Farrar. The enemy had opened a heavy rifle and machine gun fire from their trenches before our men could get near them and were mowed down. It was impossible to take the position and the assault had failed. Our artillery appeared to have done very little damage to the enemy as regards either parapet, wire or men themselves for even through the bombardment on their trenches rifle shots and machine gun fire was directed on our men as they came over our parapet. By this time the enemy had opened fire with his guns and heavily shelled our parapets, reserve trenches and RUE DU BOIS. The Battalion was now lying in front between the two trenches, unable to advance or retire or even …….. to move without being fired upon. Throughout the day the men lay out absolutely exposed to the rifle, machine gun and shell fire from the German lines. A few who were near our parapet managed to retire on the order being given. They were collected behind our lines and support trenches and there remained for the remainder of the day. At 3 p.m. another bombardment and assault was ordered, the 1st Brigade undertaking it this time, with no better results, though a few of the Black Watch got into the German trenches but were forced to retire. When darkness came the survivors crawled back to our trenches having lain out in the open for 14½ hours. The wounded, those that could be got to, were brought back, the Medical Officer, Lieutenant Bourdillon, doing very valuable work on this day. The commanding officer and adjutant brought out the remainder of the battalion (some 150 odd) to LE TOURET where orders were received to billet for the night, the 2nd Division having taken over trenches and operations from the 1st. Losses were very heavy, 8 officers being killed & 9 wounded and 541 men killed, wounded or missing*. Of the 19 company officers that went out only 2 returned unhurt. 262 died of the 1st Battalion this day, only 5 have identified graves. Intelligence about the newly-strengthened German positions was not available or given sufficient attention. No surprise was achieved. The duration and weight of the British bombardment was wholly insufficient to break the German wire and breastwork defences, or to destroy or suppress the front-line machine-guns. German artillery and free movement of reserves were also insufficiently suppressed. Trench layout, traffic flows and organisation behind the British front line did not allow for easy movement of reinforcements and casualties. British artillery equipment and ammunition were in poor condition: the first through over-use, the second through faulty manufacture. It soon became impossible to tell precisely where British troops were; accurate close-support artillery fire was impossible. This battle was an unmitigated disaster for the British army. No ground was won and no tactical advantage gained. It is very doubtful if it had the slightest positive effect on assisting the main French attack fifteen miles to the south. |
photo: Rodney Gibson
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