Arthur Frederick Daft
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Arthur Frederick was the eldest son of Arthur Fred/Frederick and Annie Daft (née White). His father was born in Nottingham and his mother in Radford on 29 November 1868. According to the 1911 Census they had been married for 21 years ie married c1891 but a record of their marriage has not yet been traced. They had seven children who were all born in Radford: Nellie b. 1888, Arthur Frederick b. 1890, William b. 1892, Harry b. 1897, Clara birth registered 1899 (J/F/M), Annie b. 1906 and Ernest b. 1909. In 1891 Arthur, a butcher, and Annie were living on Castle Street, Nottingham, with their two children Nellie (2) and Arthur (under 1 year). They had moved to 134 Denman Street, Nottingham, by 1901 where they were living with their five children: Nellie, Arthur, William (8), Harry (3) and Clara (2). Arthur was now a butcher's manager. Their two youngest children, Annie and Ernest, were born in 1906 and 1909 respectively. Arthur, a butcher's salesman, and Annie had moved to Bromark (sic) Square, Denman Street, by 1911. Only their five youngest children were at home on the night of the census: William who was serving in the Militia (Notts & Derby Regiment), Harry an errand boy, Clara, Annie (4) and Ernest (1). Their eldest daughter Nellie had probably married in 1905 and Arthur was serving with the 2nd Bn Sherwood Foresters at Crownhill Barracks, Plympton, Devon. Arthur snr. died in 1926. In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled his widow Annie was living in Beeston with her married daughter Annie Shipstone and her husband Stanley (m. 1931). Annie snr. died the following year (1940 O/N/D). Arthur Frederick jnr. married Lily Varney (b. 1891) in 1915; they had had a son, Arthur Frederick Daft Varney, who was born in December 1914. The family lived at 32 Salisbury Street, Radford, Nottingham. Arthur's widow Lily married secondly Joseph Wright at Nottingham Register Office on 1 December 1917. Joseph had joined the Sherwood Foresters before the war and was serving with the 1st Bn in India in 1911. He was discharged from the Sherwood Foresters on 26 October 1917 as physically unfit, but attested successfully in February 1918 and was mobilised. The CWGC record shows he served with the South Staffordshire Regiment (217626 Private) but his service documents record multiple transfers between regiments. Joseph died on 13 March 1919 and was buried in Nottingham General Cemetery on 18 March. (See record on this Roll of Honour). Lily was still living at 32 Salisbury Street, Nottingham, in 1939. Arthur and Lily's son married Dorothy Maud Dickinson (b. 1912) in 1936.
Arthur Frederick Daft joined the Sherwood Foresters before the war and served with the 2nd battalion in France in September 1914 making him an 'Old Contemptible'. He was either wounded or suffered from illness and was medically evacuated to England and from there joined the 9th Battalion. He was killed in action at the start of The Battle of Thiepval, 26/29th September 1916. Although all objectives were taken, it was at a high cost to the battalion. Arthur has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Thiepval memorial, Somme (Pier and Face 10 C 10 D and 11 A). John Morse
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 23 October 1916: ‘Daft. Killed in action, September 26th 1916, Private Arthur F Daft, Sherwood Foresters, aged 26 (sic), the beloved husband of Lily Daft, of 32, Salisbury-street, Radford, Nottingham.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, 2 November 1916. Photograph with caption: ‘Pte AF Daft (SF), 32 Salisbury-st, Old Radford, killed in action Sept. 26th, aged 25’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) WW1 Pension Ledgers (1): Widow Lily b. 5 February 1891 remarried. Child Arthur Frederick Daft b. 1914. WW1 Pension Ledgers (2): Lily Daft married 1 December 1917 Joseph Wright. Child Arthur Frederick Verney (sic) Daft Wright b. 11 December 1914.
