Arthur Widdowson
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Horace Arthur was the son of Arthur and Edith Widdowson (née Wilson). His father Arthur was born in Nottingham in 1879, the son of Henry, a shop keeper (grocer), and Jane Widdowson. His mother Edith was also born in Nottingham in 1879, the daughter of Horace and Rosa Wilson. Arthur and Edith were married in 1898 (A/M/J) and had five children: Horace Arthur b. Nottingham 1898 (J/A/S), Albert Edward b. Carlton 1901, Doris Edith (Edith) b. Nottingham 1903, Edna Maud (or Maria) b. Lambley 1905 (reg. 1906) and Edmund Archibald b. Nottingham 1911. In 1901 Arthur, a Swiss lace draughtsman, Edith and their son Horace (2) were living with Arthur's parents at Daisy Road, Carlton. Arthur and Edith had moved to 7 Harlaxton Street, Nottingham, by 1911 where they lived with their five children, Horace, Albert (9), Edith (7), Edna (5) and their 3 week old son (Edmund) who had not yet been named. Their son Horace Arthur attested in 1916 and was deemed to have enlisted on 19 August. He gave his address as 1 Penryhn Terrace, Cooper Street, Nottingham, but formerly of 29 Blue Bell Hill Road, Nottingham, and named his mother of the same addresses as his next of kin. Horace was working as a grocer's assistant/packer. He was called up for service on 15 February 1917, reposted ('under age CII') 2 March 1917 and remobilized on 5 April 1917. He joined at the Sherwood Foresters Depot the same day. However, he was posted to the Labour Corps on 11 April and then to the 488 Coy. Labour Corps (195396 Private) on 23 June 1917. He served at home until discharged from the army on 20 December 1917, physically unfit for war service (Medical Board, Ripon, 29 November).
He volunteered for service in 1914, joining the 12th Battalion, Royal Scots, and following training the battalion moved to Northern France. The Battalion took up positions in preparation for the Battle of Loos and its role was to carry the fortifications from Haisnes to Hulluch. The men spent the previous weeks preparing the ground for the attack, digging trenches, improving communications and carrying ammunition to nearby dumps. It was during this work that Pte. Widdowson was wounded. He was sent down the line to hospital in Calais, but died there on 15 August 1915. Arthur was buried at Calais Southern Cemetery (grave ref. B.1.16.) CWGC - History of Calais Southern Cemetery (extract): 'In April 1915, No.6 Base Supply Depot was started at Calais to help relieve the pressure on Boulogne and to provide a base nearer to the front than Le Havre or Rouen. The base remained open until the last Commonwealth forces left France in March 1921. The 30th, 35th and 38th General Hospitals, No.9 British Red Cross Hospital and No.10 Canadian Stationary Hospital were also stationed in the town, providing about 2,500 beds. From May 1915 to March 1918, Commonwealth burials were made in Calais Southern Cemetery.' (www.cwgc.org)
Arthur's son, Horace Arthur, served in the Labour Corps, discharged December 1917. (See 'Family history') CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'He laid down his life to take up again in the summer land' Nottingham Evening Post, 30 August 1915: ‘A Comrade’s Tribute to Private Arthur Widdowson.' ''To what extent the passing of one patriot exceeds in pathos the passing of another patriot in this dreadful war is only determinable in the minds of those who were most intimate with or connected with the dead by ties of blood, for all die heroes. Yet this feeling of remembrance of personal contact,’ writes JPK, ‘clings when all is over, and I was reminded of this by your roll of honour column last Saturday on seeing the announcement of the death of Private Arthur Widdowson, 12th Royal Scots. Almost exactly a year ago I was on the Midland platform at midnight seeing off a party of five young men who had given up excellent jobs and prospects to join the army, and their destination was the depot of the Royal Scots. My eldest son (an occasion contributor to your correspondence column) and Mr Widdowson were among the five. 'My son, Lance-Sergeant Archibald R Kennedy, has informed me of the manner in which Arthur Widdowson and five more of my son’s section were wounded – Widdowson very badly – but it was hoped to the last he would get over it. ‘My son writes from France: '‘We heard today, officially, of the death from wounds of Arthur Widdowson. He was greatly liked by all and we shall greatly miss his personality from my section. He was one of those indispensable men who help the weariness of warfare to be felt less through their jokes, repartee, songs,etc. He could play almost any instrument. He could make jokes on the march after we had covered twenty miles. He was always willing and through his civil as well as his military career he was an engaging character. And as so many in the Lace Market know, he was in the first flight of designers." (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Registers of Soldiers' Effects: named his mother, Jane Widdowson. WW1 Pension Ledgers Index Cards: named his widow Edith Widdowson and their four youngest children, Albert Edward, Doris Edith, Edna Maria (sic) and Edmund Archibald, residence Nottingham. Horace Arthur (b. July 1898) would not be deemed a dependant when his father died in August 1915. Research by Peter Foster.
