Arthur Powys Wodehouse
- Family History
- Military History
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Arthur Powys was the eldest son of Reverend Frederick Armine and Alice Elizabeth Juliana Wodehouse (née Powys).His father was born in Worcestershire and was vicar of St Matthias, Sneinton, Nottingham, from 1869 to 1882. He married Alice Powys (b. Titchmarsh, Northamptonshire) at Gedling All Hallows, Nottingham, on 7 September 1880. They had four chlldren, Arthur Powys bap. Sneinton St Matthias 1 July 1881; Mabel Evelyn b. Gotham 1882 bap. St Lawrence 27 September 1883, Frederick Armine b. Gotham 1884 bap. St Lawrence 17 July 1884 and Norman Atherton b. Gotham 1887 bap. St Lawrence 16 June 1887.In 1881 Frederick, vicar of Sneinton St Matthias, was living on Main Road, Carlton, with his wife Alice. They employed one domestic servant.In 1882 Frederick was appointed rector of Gotham and Ratcliffe on Soar and so in 1891 he and his wife were living at Gotham Rectory with their children Arthur (9), Mabel (8), Frederick (6) and Norman (3). There were three visitors in the home on the night of the census as well as a cook-housekeeper, house maid and parlourmaid, nursery maid and a manservant. In 1901 only Frederick and Alice and their daughter were at the Rectory on the night of the census.However, in 1911 Arthur, deputy commissioner Calcutta Police (Indian Army, Indian Political Dept), was also in the household with Mabel and their parents. Frederick Armine was already in India by 1911, a professor of history at Agra College India (1910-1912). The youngest son Norman was serving in the Royal Navy.Frederick Armine died of disease at Agra on 21 September 1912 aged 28.Arthur's father died in June 1921; he and his wife were then living in Southborough, Kent. His mother died in March 1934; she was then living in South Kensington, Middlesex.Norman Atherton, joined HMS Britannia training ship in 1902 and was a midshipman by 1904. He served in the Royal Navy until placed on the retired list (Vice Admiral) in May 1940. However, Norman then served as a convoy commodore and was killed on 4 July 1941 when his ship, SS Robert L Holt, on a South Africa bound convoy was torpedoed and sunk by German u-boat (U-69). He is commemorated on the Liverpool Naval Memorial.
Indian Army, Indian Political Department.Arthur joined the army in 1902 and was promoted captain in 1911. He was deputy commissioner of Police Calcutta (now Kolkata) from 1909. He served in the Indian Army, Indian Political Department, attached to the 110th Mahratta Light Infantry. Arthur was killed in action at Ctesiphon Mesopotamia. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Basra Memorial, Mesopotamia (now Iraq), (panel 58).CWGC - History of the Basra Memorial (extract): 'Until 1997 the Basra Memorial was located on the main quay of the naval dockyard at Maqil, on the west bank of the Shatt-al-Arab, about 8 kilometres north of Basra. Because of the sensitivity of the site, the Memorial was moved by presidential decree ... it has been re-erected in its entirety.'CWGC - Visitor information Basra Memorial (extract): 'Whilst the current climate of political instability persists it is extremely challenging for the Commission to manage or maintain its cemeteries and memorials located within Iraq. Alternative arrangements for commemoration have therefore been implemented and a two volume Roll of Honour listing all casualties buried and commemorated in Iraq has been produced. These volumes are on display at the Commission's Head Office in Maidenhead and are available for the public to view.' (www.cwgc.org/July 2021)
His brother Norman Atherton served in the Royal Navy from 1902 until placed on the Retired List in 1940 (vice-admiral). He then served as a convoy commodore and died on 4 July 1941 when the convoy was attacked by German submarine and his ship sunk.Family memorial, Gotham St Lawrence church: 'In loving memory of Arthur Powys Wodehouse. Eldest son of Rev. FA Wodehouse. Rector of Gotham 1882.1915. Born at Nottingham, June 2. 1881. Entered Army 1902. Captain 1911. Deputy Comr. Police Calcutta 1909. Killed in action at Ctesiphon, Mesopotamia, Nov. 22. 1915. Aged 34 years.'Report published in the Nottingham Evening Post, 29th November 1915 :-“KILLED IN ACTION.“CAPTAIN A. P. WODEHOUSE.“News has been received that Capt. Arthur Powys Wodehouse, the eldest son of the Rev. F. A. Wodehouse, formerly rector of Gotham, has been killed in Mesopotamia. He was 33 years old and was educated at Trent College and University College, Oxford. Afterwards he acted as an Assistant Commissioner of the Police at Calcutta, but he was attached to the 110th Mahrattas, and received orders to proceed with the expedition to Bagdad.“Only two years ago the death took place of his younger brother, Frederick Armine, who was professor of history at Agra College, India. The youngest brother, Norman A. Wodehouse, was recently appointed commander of H.M.S. Revenge, and will be remembered as a Rugby international.” Report published Nottingham Evening Post, 14th March 1923 :- “A marble tablet has been placed in the Parish Church, Gotham, by members of his family, to the memory of the Rev. Frederick Armine Wodehouse, B.A., rector of Gotham and Ratcliffe-on-Soar, from 1882 to 1915, who died on June 12th, 1921, aged 78.”Above courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918Probate: Wodehouse Frederick Armine of Gotham Nottinghamshire died 21 September 1912 at Agra India Administration Nottingham to the reverend Frederick Armine Wodehouse clerk. Effects £5.Probate: Wodehouse Arthur Powys of 2 Kyd-street Calcutta India captain Indian political department attached 110th Mahratta Light Infantry died 22 November 1915 at Ctesiphon Mesopotamia Administration (with Will) London 17 July to Alice Elizabeth Juliana Wodehouse (wife of the reverend Fred Armine Wodehouse clerk). Effects £1124 4s. 3d.
