Arthur Hindson
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Arthur Hindson was born on 28th February at Southwell and was the son of William, a farm labourer, and Hannah Hindson (née Parr) of Oxton, Nottinghamshire. His father William was born in 1852 at Foston, Lincolnshire, his mother Hannah Parr was born in 1852 at Epperstone, Nottinghamshire. They were married at Ossington Holy Rood, Nottinghamshire, in 1876 and had 12 children; sadly three died in infancy or early childhood. Their surviving children were Emma b1876 Ossington, John William b1877 Spilsby, Mary Elizabeth b1879 South Ormsby, Richard 1880 Mattersy, Annie b1884 Retford, Ada Hannah b1887 Southwell, George b1888 Southwell, Arthur b1891 Southwell and Nellie b1892 Farnsfield. By the time of the 1911 census Arthur had left the family home and was residing at Pleasley Hill Farm, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, where he was lodging with George Henry Heathcote, 39 yrs a farmer, and his wife and children, Arthur was 20 yrs of age, single and a horseman on the farm.
1st Bn Royal Marine Light Infantry Private Arthur Hindson originally enlisted and served with the service number 16294 in the Sherwood Foresters Regiment. However, on 16th September 1914 he was transferred to the Royal Marines Light Infantry. He embarked from Portsmouth on 17th November 1914 and served with the British Expeditionary Force in France, but later joined the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force from 28th February 1915 until 13th July 1915. While with the MEF he received a gun shot wound to his left hand. He returned to the Western Front on 31st July 1917 and died of wounds, which were self inflicted on 23rd October 1917; believed to be suicide (reported by Major Ozanne RMLI). He is buried in 'Dozinghem Military Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium (grave ref. XII. G. 20).
Hindson was one of 'Kitchener's Marines' who were transferred from the Sherwood Foresters to the RMLI. Des Turner notes '600 RMLI transfers came from 2 regiments - 200 from the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI) and 400 from the Sherwood Foresters. They were predominantly ex-miners and labourers, fit men wanted for their ability to dig trenches and tunnels. The 200 KOYLI recruits were transferred to Plymouth Division RMLI and were given service numbers PLY/1(S) to PLY200(S). This was also the case for the Sherwood Foresters 200 who were dispatched to Portsmouth where already 30 men were recruited and so they became PO/31(S) to PO/230(S). 200 remaining Foresters went to Chatham and were numbered CH/1 to CH/200(S). Two of his brothers served and died in the Great War. Driver John William Hindson enlisted at Southwell and served with the 5th Reserve Brigade Royal Field Artillery. John died on 14th May 1918 at the Military Hospital at Catterick; he had been thrown from a horse some weeks before and subsequently died from his injuries. He is buried in Southwell Minster (St. Mary) Churchyard, Nottinghamshire. Private Richard Hindson enlisted and served with the 17th battalion Sherwood Foresters Regiment. He was killed in action on 29th June 1916 aged 35 yrs. He is buried in Le Touret Military Cemetery, Richebourg-L'Avoue, Pas de Calais, France grave reference III.H.14.
