Arthur Ronald Wealthall
In 1939, he was an ordinance boy messenger.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Arthur Ronald was the son of John Harold and Marguerite Wealthall (née Knight).
His father John Harold was born in Beeston, Nottingham, in 1899, the son of John Harold and Elizabeth Wealthall. His mother Marguerite Knight was born in Leicester in 1901, the daughter of Thomas Knight.
John Harold (20), an iron moulder, and Marguerite (18), were married at Beeston St John on 20 March 1920; John was living at 6 Humber Road South, Beeston, and Marguerite at 11 Park Street, Beeston. John's father had died before their marriage.
John and Marguerite probably had nine children, one of whom died in infancy: Harold b. 1920, Norman b. 1923 (JFM) d. 1923 (JFM), Arthur Ronald b. 11 April 1925, Victor Thomas b. 1926, Marguerite b. 1927, Joan b. 1928, Winifred M birth registered 1931 (JFM), Roy b. 1934 and Rita Anne b. 1938 (JFM). Births registered Wealthall/Knight, Basford.
John Wealthall has not yet been traced on the 1921 Census, but his wife Marguerite and their first child, Harold (u/1y), were recorded at 6 Humber Road, Beeston, in the home of his widowed mother, Elizabeth Wealthall (48). Also in the household were three of Elizabeth's children, George (12), Winifed Emma (13) and her married daughter, Elizabeth Kate Wilmott (28), her husband Bertie, and their infant son Arthur Thomas.
John, a heavy transport driver, and Marguerite were living at 54 Burrows Avenue, Beeston, when the 1939 England & Wales Register was compiled. Also recorded in the home were their children Arthur, an ordinance boy messenger, Victor who was at school but was also a news boy, Marguerite, who was school age, and Rita and also Frances Chambers (b. 1916), a hosiery machinist operator. The records of three other members of the household remain closed but were probably those of Joan (b. 1928), Winifred (b. 1931) and Roy (b. 1934). The eldest son, Harold (b. 1920), has not yet been traced on the Register.
John Harold Wealthall died in October 1966 and his widow Marguerite in July 1974.
Able Seaman Arthur Ronald Wealthall was killed on 6 December 1944 when HMS Bullen was torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-775.
HMS Bullen was originally ordered as the Buckley Class destroyer DE78 on 10 January 1942 for service with the United States Navy but was transferred under the Lend-Lease agreement to the Royal Navy shortly after her launch on 7 August 1943 (Hingham USA). She was renamed for Captain Charles Bullen of HMS Britannia which served at the Battle of Trafalgar (21 October 1805).
During 1944 HMS Bullen served on convoy escort and patrol duties before transferring to 19th Escort Group, Western Approaches in October 1944, She left Londonderry for patrol off Cape Wrath on 1 December 1944 (Lieutenant AH Parish in command) and sank following an explosion on 6 December 1944. 71 of the crew, including the commanding officer, died, 97 survived.
AB Wealthall was buried in Eshna Ness Old Churchyard, Shetland (grave 144).
Another Nottingham casualty, C/SSX 26977 Leading Seaman Herbert Henry Robinson, was buried in Lyness Royal Naval Cemetery, Island of Hoy, part of the Orkney islands.
The wreck site is designated as a protected place under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986.
The RN Board of Enquiry held in December concluded that the explosion was caused by a mine as the Board considered the likelihood of a successful torpedo attack was very low although a survivor reported seeing a torpedo trail before the explosion and two RN ships reported a successful attack (although erroneous) on a U-boat. However, German naval records sighted after the war proved that HMS Bullen had been sunk by U-775. ‘The torpedo hit her starboard side on the bulkhead between the engine room and number 2 boiler room. Taschenmacher reported the position of his kill as 58° 42′ N, 04° 12′ W.’
www.scottishshipwrecks.com/hms-bullen/
German submarine U-775 was launched on 11 February 1944 and commissioned on 23 March 1944. Commanded by Obit. Erich Taschenmacher (23 March 1944-9 May 1945), U-775 carried out two patrols, 23 March 1944-31 October 1944 (training) and 1 November 1944-8 May 1945 (active service) with 1 ship sunk [steam merchant Soreldoc, US Army Transport Service], 1 warship sunk [HMS Bullen] and 1 ship damaged [steam merchant, Empire Geraint, Br. Ministry of War Transport]. Surrendered on 9 May 1945 at Trondheim, Norway, and transferred to Loch Ryan, Scotland, 29 May. U-775 was sunk on 8 December 1945 by gunfire (Operation Deadlight when 94 conventional German U-boats were scuttled). See uboat.net/boats/u775.
CWGC Additional information: Son of John Harold and Marguerite Wealthall, of Beeston, Nottinghamshire.
CWGC headstone, personal inscription: 'Ever in our thoughts, we will never forget him. Mam, Dad. family and Gwen'
Additional research/record updated, RF (July 2026).
Photo of Arthur Ronald Wealthall
Eshna Ness Old Churchyard, Shetland (www.cwgc.org)