Arthur Deverill
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Arthur was the son of William Deverill and Faith Deverill (née Williamson). William (b. Bulwell) and Faith (b. Arnold) were married in Nottingham in 1885 (registered Oct/Nov/Dec). William was a coal miner hewer. It appears that William and Faith separated sometime before the 1901 census. On the 1911 census William completed the record with the information that he had been married for 25 years and that of their nine children born alive only five were still living. Six children were named on the census between 1891-1911; Sarah, Ada, Bertha (died in infancy), William, Arthur and Faith. However, on a separate census record Faith gave the information that she had been married for 25 years and had had ten children born alive of whom six were still living. This reflects the fact that she had another child after she separated from William. In 1891 William (26) and Faith (25) were living at 10 Fitzroy Terrace, Nottingham, and had three daughters, Sarah (5), Ada (3) and Bertha (1). Bertha, who was born in 1889, died aged 2 in 1891 (registered Jul/Aug/Sep). By 1901 William was living at 3 Council Place, Stockwell Street, Bulwell, with his five children, Sarah, Ada, William (8), Arthur (6) and Faith (3). The same year Faith ('35, b. Arnold') was living in Newthorpe as housekeeper to Alfred Allen a single coal miner. William was still living at the same address in 1911. Also in the household on the night of the census were his three youngest children, William, Arthur and Faith, and also his two married daughters, Sarah Naylor and Ada Parsons. Sarah had married George Naylor in 1907 and had one child and Ada had been married in Pinxton in 1909 and had two children. At the time of the 1911 census Faith Deverill and her daughter, May Allen Deverill (8, b. Newthorpe), were living in the household of Alfred Allen; they were described as 'boarders'. A Faith Deverill, born about 1865, died in December 1930 aged 65. Arthur's brother William (35658 Private) also served with the Sherwood Foresters and was killed in action on 8 August 1917.
Arthur joined the army on 22 May 1915 when he was 21 years 1 month old. He served at home from 22 May until 5 March 1916 before embarking in Southampton for France on 6 March 1916 and served in France from then until his death in July the same year. He served for 1 year 53 days. He was killed in action and is buried in Le Touret British cemetery. He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Nottingham Evening Post notice (abridged), 11 September 1917: 'Private A Deverill, Sherwood Foresters, killed in action July 17h 1916. Private W Deverill, Sherwood Foresters, killed in action August 8th [1917]. Both of Stockwell Street, Bulwell.' His father was his sole legatee although a modest payment was made to his unmarried sister, Faith. His army service record has a note that he was 5' 1'' tall and had tattoos of Buffalo Bill and a soldier's head on his right forearm and a tattoo of a girl's head on his left forearm.
