Arthur Kipling
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Arthur was the son of Francis and Ann Elizabeth Kipling (née Fisher). His father Francis was born in Everton, Nottinghamshire, in 1869, the son of Joseph and Ann Kipling (née Trown). Francis was one of nine children and a younger brother, Edwin (b. 22 April 1881), was killed in the war. Details of the family can be found on Edwin's record on this Roll of Honour. His mother Ann Elizabeth was born in Harworth in 1872 (bap. Harworth & Bircotes All Saints), the daughter of James and Fanny Fisher. Francis and Ann were married at Harworth & Bircotes All Saints in 1892 and had four children who were all born in Harworth: Arthur b. 1894, Edward, Walter and Frances Ann. In 1901 Francis (31) a horseman on a farm, and Ann (28) were living in Styrrup, Nottinghamshire, with their two sons Arthur (6) and Edward (4). Also in the household was a boarder, Herbert Fotheringham (16), who was also a horseman. By 1911 the famiy was living on Home Farm, Serlby, near Bawtry, where Francis was the farm bailiff. In the home on the night of the census were three of their four children, Edward, Walter (7) and Frances (4), a female general domestic servant and two boarders, a wagoner and a farmhand. Their eldest son Arthur was living in Blyton where he was one of two horsemen on a farm, both of whom were boarders in the home of George Smithson, the farm bailiff, and his wife. Arthur's parents were still living at Home Farm, Serlby, when he was killed in 1916. His mother Ann died in 1927 (reg. Lincoln) and in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled his father Francis was living on Marian Avenue, Mablethorpe, with his married daughter Frances Ann (Hayes). He died on 19 February 1953.
Arthur enlisted in Retford on the outbreak of war, and served first in the Notts and Derby Regiment (15526 Private) and later in the Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) where he fought on the Western European theatre of war. Arthur was killed by shellfire on 17 October 1916. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France (Pier and Face 5 C and 12 C).
Arthur's uncle, Edwin Kipling, his father's younger brother, served in the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (242311 Private) and was killed in action on 21 October 1917 aged 36 (Tyne Cot Memorial). Arthur's cousin, George Henry Kipling, the son of Henry (brother of Francis and Edwin), served in 2/4th Bn Leicestershire Regiment (235238 Private) and died of wounds on 24 March 1918 (Denman Court Communal Cemetery Extension). See records on this Roll of Honour. Nottinghamshire Archives (ref PR 8446), Harworth Register of Burials: ‘Members of the Parish of Harworth who died in the Great War of 1914-1918 and are buried abroad ... Kipling Arthur (Serlby), Private Notts and Derbys MGC, 17 August 1916, age 22, killed in action on the Western Front.' Retford Times, 6 October 1916: 'Pte Arthur Kipling' 'Mr Francis Kipling, Home Farm, Serlby, has received official notification of the death of his oldest son, Private Arthur Kipling (22) who was killed instantaneously by shell fire on August 17th. He joined the Army as soon as the war broke out and was attached to a machine gun section. At the outbreak of war, Kipling, who was a grandson of Mr and Mrs Joseph Kipling, Everton, held an excellent position on Viscount Galway’s Serlby estate. Mr Kipling, sen, has received a letter from the officer commanding the Company in which the deceased soldier served, who testifies that “He was a splendid fellow” and “a very efficient soldier”. The writer goes on to say:-“In the trenches he was always very cool and I had not a man upon whom I could place greater reliance. Latterly we were short of NCOs and I had not the slightest hesitation of putting your son in charge of his team. On the morning of the day he was killed he did excellent work. Sitting coolly at his gun, he accounted for a large number of the enemy who were endeavouring to escape from an attack in another part of the line nearby. He was killed by shellfire, dying instantaneously. In him you have lost a brave son and in my Company one of its best men”.' Registers of Soldiers' Effects: His father Francis was his legatee. Original research by Colin Dannatt
