Arthur Noble

Arthur enlisted in the KRRC on 17 May 1915 aged 19 years and 9 days. He was posted (Home) on 20 May 1915 and during active service in the UK was charged with being absent 'off pass' from 9.30 (date illegible) to 8.30 4 August 1915 for which he was awarded four days loss of pay. He was posted to the BEF (France) on 20 August 1915 and died at No. 19 Field Ambulance of grenade wounds 'penetrating the chest' at 1.30pm on 31 October 1915 following an incident in a dug-out. In the incident, one man, 10954 Rifleman George Law, probably died instantly and a number of others were wounded as well as Arthur. He was buried in Woburn Abbey Cemetery (A20 6.5.7 Bethune Combined Sheet) by a service chaplain. Arthur's service record survives and includes a number of documents, largely incomplete and partly illegible, relating to the Court of Enquiry which was held at Beuvry on 19 November 1915 'for the purpose of enquiring into and reporting upon the cause and nature of injuries received by certain Riflemen on 31st Oct. 1915 – their names as per margin [10954 Rfn Law, 112899 Rfn Noble, 5149 Rfn. Goldsmith,11326 Rfn Baxter, 11689 Rfn Pay, 5041 Rfn Unwin, 11581 Rfn Skuse, 11465 Rfn Kempster]. President Capt SH Ferrand 1st KRRC, Members: Lieut CWW Birkett 1st KRRC, 2/Lieut TNF Wilson 1st KRCC. The court having assembled pursuant to order proceed to take evidence.' '1st Witness: No 12693 Rfn E Digwood 1st Bn Kings Royal Rifles having been duly sworn states – About 12 noon (date unknown) I was in a dug-out in Seventh Street along with a fatigue party of about 15 men. We were waiting for some stores to be brought up with a view to carrying them up to the front line. Whilst we were waiting Rfn Unwin left the dug-out (and) returned carrying two rifle grenades.' [End] At least six Riflemen were admitted to No 5 Field Ambulance, Riflemen R Goldsmith, W Baxter, E Pay, F Unwin, F Skuse and J Kempster all of whom made statements on admission with the exception of Rfm Goldsmith who was unable to do so: ‘Statement by 11689R (-) Pay 1st RRC. ‘One man (-) dug-out waiting for [largely illegible] … somehow they fell off and exploded … This happened between 11 & 12 am. The above statement was made to me by Rfn Pay on admission to No 5 Field Ambulance (name illegible).' Another statement by Rfn Skuse stated that ‘he was in his dug-out waiting for the RS (-) to come back to dismiss him just before the two men had a German Rifle Grenade they were looking at it in their hands when it just went off.’ Rfn Kempster and Rfn Unwin made a similar statements to Rfn Skuse. A statement by Rfn Baxter is largely illegible. Memo: Opinion of the Court, 4 December 1915. Memo 12 December To Brigadier General Commanding 6th Infantry Brigade, The name of No. 12899 Pte Noble, although one of the men injured and who subsequently died, did not appear in the body of the proceedings. A copy of the report of his death is attached. Witness statement (incomplete): ‘towards me, and two men, (-) out of the other exit to the dug out. I got some assistance and helped to carry the men down to the dressing station. Rfn Law was the only man sitting down in the dug-out at the time of the explosion, and he was killed. Signed E Digwood RRC.’ Margin note: ‘Attached to the Proceedings’ with note alongside ‘No further verbal evidence is obtainable but statements of evidence signed by Rfn Baxter, Pay, Unwin, Skuse & Kempster with a covering statement from Capt HCO Hankin RAMC are read to the Court, marked ABCDEF, signed by the President and attached to the Proceedings.’ Margin note: ‘Medical Evidence’ with note alongside: ‘Medical reports (representing AFB 117) for Rfn Baster, Pay, Unwin, Skuse, Kempster & Goldsmith are read to the Court marked GHIJKL, signed by the President and attached to the proceedings.’ The document was signed by two KRCC Officers. Note: Of those named in the Court of Enquiry documents: Captain Stafford Hubert Ferrand ist Bn KRRC survived the war (b. 1 March 1888, d. 1975 J/F/M Northallerton Yorkshire). Lieut CCW(sic) Birkett 1st Bn KRRC - probably Lieut (later Captain) Cyril Ernest Birkett 3rd Somerset Light Infantry attd 1st Bn KRRC, survived the war (b. 27 June 1892 d. 1969 A/M/J Exeter Devon). 2nd Lieut TNF Wilson - no trace CWGC Of the men injured in the incident: Baxter, Goldsmith, Kempster, Pay, Skuse and Unwin, only 11465 Rifleman John Kempster of Oswestry, Salop, appears to have died in the war (KIA 23 July 1916 serving in the 2nd Bn, Thiepval Memorial). The witness, 12693 Rifleman E Digwood, probably survived the war.

Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his mother, Millicent, was his sole legatee.