Arthur John Morley
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
He was the son of William Levi and Maria Morley. In 1891 he was living with his parents and siblings Clara and Ada at 22 Lavender Street St Anns Nottingham. His father was a stationary engine driver. In 1901 he was living with his widowed mother and siblings at 22 Lavender Street St Anns. He married Lily Keeton during the third Quarter of 1909. In 1911 he was living with his wife and daughter Ada Florence at 15 Dame Agnes Street St Anns. On his discharge paper he was listed as living at 45 Maude Street New Basford Nottingham.
He enlisted 16th June 1915 was promoted to bombardier and transferred to West Riding Battery RHA. He was posted overseas either during 1916 or 1917 and renumbered 608330 in 1917. He was diagnosed with phthisis (pulmonary tuberculosis or a similar progressive wasting disease) November 1917 and discharged from the RHA Depot Woolwich under Para 392 (XVI) a K.R as being no longer physically fit for war service 20th April 1918. His military character was 'very good'. The West Riding Battery was embodied with the Yorkshire Mounted Brigade on 4th August 1914 and apparently remained in Yorkshire. The yeomanry regiments left the brigade for other formations in 1915 and it ceased to exist. The Battery, along with the Essex and Hampshire RHA, joined V Lowland Brigade, Royal Field Artillery (T.F.) when it was formed on 13th January 1916 at Leicester. Before departing for the Middle East, the Battery were re-equipped with four 18 pounders. The Brigade embarked between 15th and 18th February 1916 at Devonport and arrived at Port Said on 2nd March. It joined 52nd (Lowland) Division at El Qantara on 17th March in the Suez Canal Defences. The Brigade was renumbered as CCLXIII Brigade, RFA (T.F.) on 28th May 1916 and the Battery as C/CCLXIII Battery on the same date. While with 52nd (Lowland) Division, the Battery took part in the Battle of Romani on 4th and 5th August 1916. On 15th September 1916, the Brigade was renumbered as CCLXIV Brigade, RFA (T.F.) (the battery became C/CCLXIV Battery) and on 30th December 1916 back to CCLXIII Brigade, RFA (T.F.). On that date, the Battery was broken up: one section went to 'A' Battery (formerly Hampshire RHA) and the other section to 'B' Battery (former Essex RHA).The Brigade now consisted of two batteries of six 18 pounders each. It is not known whether Arthur Morley was transferred to 'A' or 'B' Battery
He died at Bagthorpe Sanatorium on 20th May 1920 and is buried in Nottingham General Cemetery Probate granted 9th March 1921 Estate £90 14s 8d CWGC cites him serving with 3rd/1st Notts Battery RHA which was the Depot in Nottingham as there is no reference to a 3rd line Battery serving during the war.
