Military History

Arthur is listed as being killed in action on 4 Oct 1917. At that time his unit, 256th Siege Battery (click for history), were under the Command of XVIII Corps, 47th Heavy Artillery Group (HAG). The relevant parts of the war diary for the Commander 47th HAG is transcribed below along with the Appendix 4 mentioned in the War Diary [WO 95/955/4]

Page 1 -  Wood North of Brandhoek - 4th [Oct 1917] The Heavy Artillery fired in support of the Infantry attack. A "neutralizing" barrage was put down along the whole Corps front by 6" inch Hows.[Howitzers] with the purpose of neutralizing machine guns. Selected strong points came under fire at the same time. On the completion of the barrage 6" Hows. blocked approaches by bursts of fire and 15" and 9.2" Hows. formed a "standing" barrage on cross roads and farms. [See Appendix 4].

Page 87 - Casualties 256th Battery - 2/Lt F Scott wounded. 7 Other Ranks killed and 13 Other Ranks wounded. END

Page 15 - Enemy Artillery 6pm 3rd to 6pm 4th .10. 17 - Yesterday evening enemy artillery was fairly activem St Julien, Buffs Road [where Arthur was buried, Kitcheners Wood and Alberta being the chief targets. Later at about midnight a 15cm How. Battery fired fairly heavily on D.7.a and some shell of the same calibre fell in C.23 and on Buffs Road again.

From zero hour this morning onwards the enemy naturally showed considerable activity. His actual barrage against our attack was put down at 6.4am but heavy shelling of the area between our Front Line and the Winnipeg-Zeerselaere Road started at 5.45am. It is not thought that this was in anticipation of our attack but a repetition of the “dawn barrage” reported practically every day.

This barrage continued till about 9.30am when it was reported to break up and become scattered, and shortly afterwards 15 cm Hows. Were reported to be shelling two of our battery positions in C.22.c the first report of any shelling of battery areas.

At about 11.15am the enemy apparently shortened his range, and shelling was reported on the area between our first and final objectives.

From midday onwards enemy artillery quietened down very considerably with the exception of the hour between 2.30 and 3.30 When fairly heavy shelling of V.25 and V.26 took place.

Since 3.30pm only intermittent shelling has been reported on special targets such as well O.P.; Hugel Hollow, Wellington, C.18.a and C.23.c.

The calibres in use were chiefly 15cm, 10.5cm Howiters and H.V guns.

The Westroosebeeke group was undoubtably active, but as usual a considerable amount of fire came from the direction of Passchendaele. END