Arthur Caunt
Before the war he was a joiner by trade and worked for a funeral director at Canning Circus, Nottingham
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Arthur was the son of George and Emma Caunt (née Hind).
His father George was born in 1843 in Radcliffe on Trent, Nottinghamshire, the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Caunt. His mother Emma Hind was born in 1853 in Nottingham.
George and Emma were married in 1871 (reg. JFM Radford) and had 13 children who were all born in Sneinton. Twelve children have been traced on the census records: Jane Elizabeth (Elizabeth) b. 1871, Samuel James birth reg. 1873 (JFM), Maria birth registered 1875 (JFM), George b. 1877, John Robert (Robert) b. 1880, William b. 1882, Arthur birth registered 1884 (JFM), Henry (Harry) b. 1886, Ellen (Nellie) b. 1887, Theresa b. 1889, Frederick birth registered 1893 (JFM) and Albert b. 1895. Four children, Jane Elizabeth, Samuel James, Maria and George, were baptised at Sneinton St Stephen on 28 August 1877.
Two of their 13 children had died by 1911; Maria died in 1905 and the other child may have been James, birth registered 1879 (JFM, mother's maiden name Hind), although no registration of death has yet been traced.
George and Emma were living at Eyre Place, Sneinton, when their four eldest children were baptised in 1877.
By 1881 George, a painter, his wife and their five children, Elizabeth, Samuel, Maria, George and Robert, were living at 8 Clarence Terrace, Sneinton.
George and Emma were recorded at 81 Randolph Street, Sneinton, on the 1891 Census. Also in the home were their ten children: Jane a lace dresser, Samuel a general labourer, Maria (no occupation given), George, Robert, William, Arthur and Henry who were all school age, and George and Robert (1). Frederick was born two years later and Albert in 1895.
The family was living at 13 Keswick Street, Sneinton by 1901: George, now working as a journeyman painter, his wife and seven of their children; William a bricklayer, Arthur a joiner, Henry a bottle washer (liquer merchants), Nellie an errand girl and Theresa, Frederick and Albert who were school age.
Maria had married Joseph Spridgen at Sneinton St Alban on 19 November 1898 and they were living at 2 May's Yard, Sneinton, when their daughter Mary Alice was born in 1899 (reg. baptised Sneinton St Alban April 1899). Their son Albert was born in 1904. Maria died in 1905 aged 29.
Arthur married Selina (Lina) Murden in 1907 (reg. Nottingham). They had three children, Evelyn b.1909, Arthur b.1910 and Lucy b.1912, who were born in Nottingham. In 1911 Arthur, a joiner, was living at 52 Windemere Road, Hyson Green, Nottingham with his wife and their two children Eveline (2) and Arthur (1). The family's last known address was 14 Shirley Terrace, Kirkstead Road, Hyson Green, Nottingham.
George married Gertrude May Wood (b. 1887) at Nottingham St George on 1 February 1908;
Theresa married Albert Edgar Gimson in 1909 and William married in 1911.
George and Emma had moved to 53 Walker Street, Sneinton, by 1911. Also in the home on the night of the census were their two children Ellen (24) a lace hand and Albert (16) a dray lad and three grandchildren, Ida Caunt (b. 1910 AMJ, registered Ida Caunt Radford), who was Nellie's daughter, and Alice (12) and Albert Spridgen (6), the children of their daughter Maria who had died six years previously.
Nellie married Horace Radford in 1913.
George snr. died on 22 February 1919. He had served with the 22nd Regiment of Foot (Cheshire Regiment) before his marriage and was buried with military honours in Nottingham General Cemetery. Three of his sons had predeceased him: Harry was killed in action on 20 October 1914, Samuel died aged 43 on 15 February 1916 (Nottingham General Cemetery) and Frederick was killed in action on 27 October 1916.
Robert died on 1 April 1921 (Nottingham General Cemetery). William died in 1935 aged 53.
Arthur Caunt enlisted at Nottingham and served with the 2nd Battalion Sherwood Foresters, Notts. & Derby Regiment.
He landed in France on 8 September 1914. After serving on the Aisne (20 September 1914) Arthur was taken prisoner on 20th October 1914 at Ennentieres.
He died while a prisoner of war of appendicitis, 'Blinddarmentzündung', as shown in Red Cross records, in the camp at Hameln Weser on 6 January 1915. He was buried in Niederzwehren Cemetery, Kassel. Germany (grave ref. X.F.16).
He qualified for the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Four of his brothers also served during the war. Henry (Harry) was killed in action on 20 October 1914, and Frederick, was killed in action on 27 October 1916. (See records on this Roll of Honour). William (1st Bn. Sherwood Foresters later transferred to the RAMC) served in France from 4 November 1914 and was discharged wounded 18 January 1915. Albert landed in France in 1915 (11th Bn. Sherwood Foresters, later 1st Bn.) and was still serving with the Sherwood Foresters in 1921. Their sister Theresa's husband, Albert Gimson, served with the 2/7th Bn. Sherwood Foresters.
Their brother, George, a lace dresser, aged 20, of 6 Belgrave Square, Walker Street, Sneinton, attested in the Militia on 21 October 1897 (5965 Private 45th Derbyshire Regiment) then transferred to the 1st Bn. Sherwood Foresters. Service Record: Home 7 January 1898-20 September 1898 (257 days), Malta 21 September 1898-20 November 1899 (1y 61d), South Africa 21 November 1899-7 September 1902 (2y 291d), China 8 September 1902-6 December 1904 (2y 90d), Settlements 7 December 1904-29 January 1906 (1y54d), Home 30 January 1906-6 January 1910 (3y 342d). Total 12 years (Queen’s South Africa Medal and clasp). He then applied to join the Army Reserve and enlisted on 7 April 1910 for four years (5784 Private, Sherwood Foresters). He was then living at 3 Barnby Crossing, Newark, next of kin wife, Gertrude May (m. 1 February 1908) of the same address, occupation labourer. He was discharged on the termination of his engagement on 6 April 1914.
Nottingham Evening Post, 'In Memoriam', 22 March 1915: 'Caunt. Died in Hameln Weser, as prisoner of war, Private A. Caunt, 2nd Sherwood Foresters, the beloved husband of Lina Caunt, late of Forest Fields. Deeply mourned.'
Nottingham Evening Post, 16 April 1915: 'SEVEN SOLDIER SONS. SNEINTON FAMILY’S FINE RECORD.'
'Mr. George Caunt, of 11, Hampton-terrace, Walker-street, Sneinton, has seven sons, a grandson, and two sons-in-law who have either served or are at present serving in the army. The father enlisted in 1859 and completed eleven years’ service.
'Six of the sons belonged to the first or second Battalion Sherwood Foresters, George, [1] who served for 16 years, and Robert [2] 18 years’ service, both being wounded in South Africa. William, [3] who returned from India with the 1st Sherwood Foresters, was wounded in France, whilst Harry [4] was killed at the front in October last. Frederick [5] was wounded, and has returned to France, and Arthur [6] taken a prisoner of war and died in Germany. Albert, [7] the remaining son, has joined the 9th (Service) Battalion Sherwood Foresters.
'The grandson (George Boultby) [8] in the A.S.C., whilst the sons-in-law (Horace Radford and Albert Gimson) [9] have enlisted in the R.F.A. and the Robin Hood Reserve Battalion respectively.' [10]'
[1] Pte. George Caunt served with 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters in South Africa. He was reported missing on 4th November 1900 – rejoined – and was wounded at Vlakfontein on 29th May 1901. He was awarded the Queen's South Africa medal with bars 'Johannesburg', 'Diamond Hill', 'Cape Colony' and 'Orange Free State' and the King's South Africa Medal with bars 'South Africa 1901' and 'South Africa 1902'. He was discharged on 6th January 1910.
[2] No record of a Robert Caunt as having been wounded in South Africa. His service record show him to have joined 4th Battalion Derbyshire Regiment in 1897 but it provides no details of service in South Africa.
[3] Pte. William Caunt, 1st Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment, landed in France on 4th November 1914. His medal index card shows that he transferred to the Royal Army Medical Corps. According to his entry on the Silver War Badge roll, he was discharged from the Sherwood Foresters on 29th May 1917 “on termination of engagement” aged 41 years and six months.
[4] L/Cpl. Harry Caunt, 2nd Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment, was killed in action on 20th October 1914. He is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial.
[5] L/Cpl. Frederick Caunt, 1st Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment, landed in France on 4th November 1914. He was killed in action on 27th October 1916 and is buried in Beacon Cemetery, Sailly-Laurette.
[6] Pte. Arthur Caunt, 2nd Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment, landed in France on 8th September 1914. He was taken prisoner on 20th October 1914 and died of wounds in German hands on 6th January 1915. He is buried in Niederzwehren Cemetery, Kassel.
[7] Pte. Albert Caunt landed in France on 27th August 1915 as a member of the 11th Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment. He later served with the 1st Battalion.
[8] Pte. George Boultby landed in France with the Army Service Corps on 14th July 1915. He transferred to the Labour Corps.
[9] Cpl. Albert Gimson, 2/7th Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment (Robin Hood Rifles).
Above courtesy Jim Grundy facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
Nottingham Evening Post, 'In Memoriam', 6 January 1916: 'Caunt. In loving memory of my dear husband, Pte. Arthur Caunt, 2nd Sherwood Foresters, died in Germany, January 6th, 1915. Sleep on, dear one, and take thy rest, we know you tried to do your best; on earth there's strife, in Heaven there's rest, we miss you most who loved you best. From wife and children.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, 'In Memoriam', 6 January 1916: 'Caunt. In loving memory of our dear son, Private Arthur Caunt, who died in Germany January 6th, 1915. – From father, mother, brothers, and sisters.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, 'Deaths', 17 February 1916: ‘Caunt. On 15th inst., at 3, Minerva-place, Keswick-street, Samuel James, the dearly beloved husband of Clara Caunt, and eldest son of George and Emma Caunt, aged 43 years, after long and painful illness. Peace after pain. Funeral General Cemetery (top end), Saturday, 2.30’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Arthur's father, George Caunt, died on 22 February 1919. An old soldier, he had enlisted in the 22nd Regiment of Foot (Cheshire Regiment) in Nottingham on 25 August 1865. He was buried with military honours in Nottingham General Cemetery.
Nottingham Evening Post, 'Deaths', 27 February 1919: 'Caunt. On 22nd inst., at 12 Hampton-terrace, Walker-street, George, the beloved husband of Emma Caunt, passed away. Peace after pain. Service at St. Alban's 2 o'clock; General Cemetery, Derby-road, 2.30, Saturday. [4th March 1919] Military funeral.'
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 6 April 1923: ‘Caunt. On the 1st inst., at 4 Dennett’s-terrace, Beaumont-street, Sneinton, John Robert Caunt. Funeral General Cemetery, top end, Saturday 3.30.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
William Caunt (b. 1882) died in 1935 aged 53. Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Acknowledgements’, 13 November 1935: Mrs Caunt and Family, thank all kind friends, neighbours, Old Comrades Association, Porters General Hospital, for floral tributes and sympathy in their sad bereavement.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Arthur Caunt
Nottingham Evening Post, 27 March 1915. Source Jim Grundy facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
Arthur Caunt
Buried in Niederzwehren Cemetery, Kassel, Hessen, Germany. Photograph courtesy of Arthur's granddaughter, Janice Trueman..