No.G/52244, Private, Arthur John WEBBER
Aged 20
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Arthur John Webber was born in Isleham on 5th October 1896,(Newmarket Q4-1896 3B:527), son of John and Hannah WEBBER (née JOHNSON).
His German P o W cards have two dates of birth 5th Sept, or 5th Oct 1897. 1901 census...Aged 4, he was at Fen Bank, Isleham, with his father John WEBBER [36] labourer; his mother Hannah [35]; sisters Florence H [13] and Sarah A [10]; brothers Norman D [7] and Frederick [1] and grandfather James JOHNSON [64]. All were born in Isleham. 1911 census... Aged 14, farm labourer, he was at Mill House, Fen Bank, Isleham with his parents (father now river drainer); brothers Norman (farm labourer) and Frederick; sisters Mabel Hannah [8], Sarah Ellen [6] and Gertie [2]. The new sisters were all born in Isleham. So far the only Soham connection found is that residence in Soham is on his PoW card and his mother's address on pension card is Mere Mill, Soham |
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He was captured, unwounded, at Flavy (Flavy le Martel) on 23rd March 1918. At 05:55 on 10th June 1918 he died of pneumonia in No 62 War Hospital and was buried in Hautmont Friedhof, grave 237. Bavarian War Hospital No 62 [Bayerishen Kriegslazarett] at Hautmont was on the outskirts of Maubeuge in the Sambre valley in France.One card of the International Red Cross gives his death as caused by gastro-entertitis, but there were often differing causes of death recorded in these documents for the same soldier. He is given as born in 'Islehamton', living in Soham. The 11th Royal Fusiliers has 22 killed on the day Arthur was captured (only 3 have a known grave). On the 23rd the 54th Brigade, being overwhelmed by the German attack was ordered to retire. The orders did not reach the Fusiliers to the north who were in dire trouble. Gradually they were overwhelmed by the sheer force of numbers coming across the canal at Jussy and, by the time they decided to retire without orders, it was far too late. German machine guns had been set up on the edges of several woods en-route to Faillouel, cutting them down in swathes. Groups of helpless survivors without ammunition surrendered as they realised the situation was hopeless. At the end of the day just 2 officers and 26 men remained of the Fusiliers. |
photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission
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