Arthur Cecil Shrewsbury
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
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Arthur Cecil was born in St Saviours parish, Meadows, Nottingham, the son of Arthur and Edith Annie Shrewsbury (née Winterbottom). His father Arthur was born in Nottingham in 1874, the son of William, a lace maker, and Emma Shrewsbury (née Walker). In 1881 William, Emma and their sons Arthur (6) and William (1), were living in New Yard, Nottingham (parish of St Mary), lodgers in the household of Milindy Walker (49) a widow with three children in the home. His mother Edith Annie was born in Leabrooks, Derbyshire, in 1874, the daughter of George and Sarah Winterbottom; she was baptised at Riddings parish church on 12 July 1874. In 1881 Edith and her widowed father, a stationary engine driver, were living in Riddings. Arthur and Edith were married in 1894 (reg. Nottingham) and had four children, all born in Nottingham, one of whom sadly died in infancy: Arthur Cecil b. 1896, Doris Louie b. 23 August 1897, Edith Phyllis b. 1899 (J/A/S) d. 1899 (J/A/S) and William Leslie b. 19 May 1903. In the 1901 census the family was living at 54 Kirkby Street, Meadows: Arthur (26) a cricket bat maker (sports manufacturer), Edith (26), Arthur (4) and Doris (3). The family was still living at 54 Kirkby Street in 1911. Only Arthur Cecil, a clerk with an assurance company, and William (7) were in the home with their parents on the night of the census. Their daughter Doris has not yet been traced on the census. When Arthur attested three years later in 1914 he named his parents and brother William, all of 54 Kirkby Street, as his next of kin. Edith Annie died aged 42 at 30 Kirkby Street, Meadows, on 13 May 1916. The following year Arthur snr., now living at 28 Kirkby Street, died of a malignant tumour on 6 October aged 43. Arthur Cecil was home on leave in October 1917, presumably having been granted compassionate leave, and was named on the death certificate as being present at his father's death and the informant. Doris Louie completed Army Form 5080 on 9 July 1919 giving details of her late brother's surviving blood relatives: William Leslie and Doris Louie both of 28 Kirkby Street, Nottingham. Doris married Albert E Carnelley (b. 14 July 1897) in 1921 and they had at least three children: Irene L. b. 24 March 1922, Reginald Frederick b. 5 September 1925 and Doris M. b. 1927. In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled, Albert, a school caretaker, and Doris were living on Kinglake Street, Meadows, with their children Irene and Ronald and Albert's widowed father, Frederick Carnelley (b. 1864), a retired engine fitter. The record of another member of the household remains closed but was probably that of their third child, Doris. Doris Louie died in November 1970. William Leslie married Ann Blood (b. 14 May 1909) in 1938. In 1939 they were living on Grainger Street, Meadows; William was a chemist's porter and Ann a café room maid. William died on 6 May 1977.
Arthur enlisted at Nottingham on 10th September 1914 on a short service engagement for the duration of the war. He gave his age as 19 years and 20 days, place of birth as the parish of St Saviour, Meadows, Nottingham, and his occupation clerk. Arthur had a medical examination the same day. He was posted to the King's Royal Rifle Corps and embarked for the Western Front on 23rd July 1915 for service with the British Expeditionary Force. On 23rd September 1915 he suffered a gun shot wound to his right thumb and was admitted to 61 Field Ambulance but was discharged to duty the following day. In July 1916 he was twice admitted to Field Ambulance suffering from boils and on 21 July to No. 1 Casualty Clearing Station (condition illegible) and again on 21 July to No. 25 Hospital for boils. He was authorised leave in October 1917 and was at home when his father died on 6 October. On 18 November 1917 he was admitted to 61 Field Ambulance, possibly with influenza, and then had an extended spell in hospital, probably at Le Havre, from 25 November, rejoining for duty on 27 December. Arthur's service record notes that he was killed in action between 21 March and 2 April 1918, the date was later confirmed as 2 April. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Poziers Memorial, Belgium (Panel 61 to 64). He qualified for the 1914/1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of the Pozieres Memorial (extract): 'The memorial relates to the period of crisis in March and April 1918 when the Allied Fifth Army was driven back by overwhelming numbers across the former Somme battlefields, and the months that followed before the Advance to Victory, which began on 8 August 1918. The Memorial commemorates over 14,000 casualties of the United Kingdom and 300 of the South African Forces who have no known grave and who died on the Somme from 21 March to 7 August 1918 ... The memorial encloses Pozieres British Cemetery.' (www.cwgc.org)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 15 & 16 May 1916: ‘Shrewsbury. On the 13th inst., at 36 Kirkby-street, Edith Annie, the beloved wife of Arthur Shrewsbury, aged 42 years. Peace after pain.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 8 & 10 October 1917. ‘Shrewsbury. On the 6th inst., at 28 Kirkby-street, Arthur Shrewsbury, passed away, aged 43. Funeral Lenton Church Wednesday.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 25 April 1918: ‘Shrewsbury. Killed iin action, Arthur Cecil, eldest son of the late Edith and Arthur Shrewsbury, in his 22nd year. Some time we’ll understand. Sorrowing sister Dolly, brother Willie.’ (www.britishnewspaperachive.co.uk) 'In memoriam' notices published 1st April 1919 in the Nottingham Evening Post:- “SHREWSBURY. – In loving memory of Rfn. Arthur Cecil Shrewsbury, killed April 1st, 1918. We have watched and waited, but all in vain. – Loving sister and brother Willie, also Mrs. Clark. “SHREWSBURY. – In ever-loving memory of Arthur Cecil Shrewsbury, K.R.R., killed in action April 1st, 1918. Life's sweetest gift is remembrance.” Above courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 WW1 Pension Ledgers: named his sister, Doris L Shrewsbury. Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Doris Louie and William Leslie were Arthur's legatees.
