Arthur Mason
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Arthur was born in 1896 in Hyson Green and was the son of William, a brick layer, and Harriett Mason née Wilkins. His parents originated in Cambridgeshire and moved to Nottingham prior to the birth of their first child in 1885. William and Harriett were married in about 1883. His father William was born in 1863 in St Whittlesea, Cambridgeshire, and his mother Harriett Wilkins was born in 1858 in Cattenham, Cambridgshire. They had a total of eight children who were, William b1885, Frederick b1887, Florence b1889, Elizabeth b1891, Mary b1894, Arthur b1896, Herbert b1901 and Harriett b1903; all the children were born in Hyson Green. It would appear that in 1910 his father William left his mother and their children. His whereabouts were unknown in 1919 when his mother completed form 5080 giving details of the deceased soldier's living next of kin. In the 1911 census the family was living at 34 Saville Street, Nottingham and were shown as Harriet married, 53 yrs head of the family, she is living with her children William 26 yrs married a bricklayer (house building), Elizabeth 20 yrs single a factory hand lace dressing, Mary 17 yrs factory hand cotton spinner, Arthur 15 yrs a waggoner at a brewery, Herbert 12 yrs a scholar, Harriett 8 yrs also a scholar and William 3 yrs her grandson. Also living at the address are William Wagstaff 21 yrs a coal miner and Henry Chambers 31 yrs a visitor, also a coal miner. On an army form 5080 dated April 1919 submitted by his mother giving details of the deceased living next of kin she writes that her husband William had left her 9 years previous and that Arthur's surviving brothers were William aged 35 yrs and John Herbert 21 yrs, both serving in the Army in France, and his sisters were :- Florence Parkins 30 yrs of 17 Craven St Hyson Green, Mary H 26 yrs and Harriett 17 yrs both living with her at 48 Cornhill Street, Hyson Green.
Arthur enlisted on 27th August 1914 at Nottingham. He gave his age as 18 yrs and 338 days and his occupation as that of carter. He signed on for a period of 6 years into the Notts and Derby Regiment Special Reserve. He had landed in France as a reinforcement to 2nd battalion Sherwood Foresters on 3rd May 1915 and was killed in action on 9th August 1915. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
Nottingham Evening Post, 25 September 1915: ‘Local Casualties. Big list of Missing Sherwoods … Missing believed killed … L-Cpl Mason 5134 A.’ Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 9 October 1915: ‘Mason. Killed in action, August 9th, 1915. (-) Mason, No. 5134, 2nd Sherwood Foresters, beloved [son] of Mrs Mason, 48 Cornhill-street, Hyson Green, aged 19 years. We never knew what pain he had, [-] saw him die; we only know he passed away without a last good-bye. From his sorrowing mother and [-].’ (www.britishnewspaperarchives.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, 20 October 1915: Photograph with caption, ‘Pte A Mason, 2nd Sherwood Foresters, 48, Cornhill Street, Hyson Green, killed in action August 9th.’ Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 9 August 1916: ‘Mason. In ever loving memory of Private Arthur Wilkin Mason, 2nd Sherwood Foresters, killed in the battle of Hooge, August 9th 1915. Time changes many things, but loving memory ever clings. Ever remembered by sorrowing mother, sisters and brothers, also brother and brother-in-law with colours’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam, 9 August 1916: ‘Mason In ever-loving memory of Private Arthur Wilkin Mason, 2nd Sherwood Foresters, who fell in the battle of Hooge, August 9th 1915. Ever remembered by his friends, Frank and Lawrence, in France.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 9 August 1916: ‘Mason. In loving memory of Private Mason, killed in action, August 9th 1915. Taken from my side, but never from my heart. From sweetheart Louie. (www.britishnewspaper archive.co.uk} Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 9 August 1917: ‘Mason. In loving memory of Private A. Mason, killed in action August 9th, 1915. God takes the loved ones from our homes, but never from our hearts. Sorrowing mother, sisters, and brothers (two in France).’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
