|
Military History |
| Theatre of War | Medals | Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial |
|---|---|---|
| Gallipoli | 1914-15 Star, British War & Victory Medals | Helles Memorial |
| Arrived in Theatre | Medal Citation (if app) | SWFHS Area Memorials |
| 13 Jul 1915 | ~ | Stoneleigh |
| Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed | Date and Place Enlisted | Other War Memorials |
| Battle of Chunuk Bair | After 5 Aug 1914 at Coventry | Dormansland, Lingfield, Surrey |
| Place of Death | Previous Regiments or Units | |
| near Koja Chemen, Turkey | ||
Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)
Arthur is listed as being killed in action on 10 Aug 1915. He was killed during the assault on Koja Chemen and the following description to the events is taken from The Story of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment by C.L. Kingsford.
The 9th Royal Warwickshire, under Major W. A. Gordon, landed at Anzac Cove in the early morning of August 4. During the first two days (August 6-7) of the attack they were in divisional reserve, but advanced up Aghyl Dere. On August 8 they crossed Bauchop's Hill to the ridge beyond, part going to relieve the 9th Worcester at the head of Aghyl Dere. The New Zealanders had captured Rhododendron Ridge on the previous day, and on August 8 followed up their success by winning Chunuk Bair at the southern end of the main ridge. The crisis of the attack came on August 9 with the assault of Koja Chemen. Three battalions - the 9th Royal Warwickshire, the 6th South Lancashire, and the 6th Gurkhas - reached the crest, whence they could look down on the waters of the Dardanelles and seemed to have victory in their grasp.
But the troops on the right, through no fault of their own, were late, and when the Turks rallied to a counter-attack our men were forced back to the lower slopes from whence they started. One company of the Royal Warwickshire held on, till they were surrounded, and, as it is supposed, all perished. Next day the Turks attacked in the early morning with disastrous results. The trenches were enfiladed by machine-gun fire, and since no supports were available it was impossible to hold the remainder of the crest on Chunuk Bair. When at night the Royal Warwickshire was withdrawn to reserve no officers and only 248 men were left. Major Gordon had been wounded on August 8, and Major A. G. Sharpe, who succeeded him, was killed two days after. During the four days 5 officers were killed, 9 wounded and 1 missing; of other ranks 57 were killed, 227 wounded and 117 missing. For their service on these days Majors Gordon
and C. C. R. Nevill received the D.S.O.
and C. C. R. Nevill received the D.S.O.
The 9th Royal Warwickshire was withdrawn to reserve, on August 10, 1915 and it was temporarily commanded by Sergt.-Major Collicott. [Sergeant-Major Butler was in charge at the dump]. On August 12 Major W. B. Gover of the Cheshires took over the command. A number of the missing men rejoined, some drafts arrived from Lemnos and England with fresh officers, and the strength of the battalion gradually increased. The rest of August was uneventful except for occasional service in the front trenches.
| Personal & Family History |
| Birth Date/Place | Baptism Date/Place |
|---|---|
| Jul Qtr 1892 at Hackney | 29 Aug 1893 at Haggerston St. Chad |
| Parents Names | Abode |
| Harry and Charlotte Willson | both deceased |
| Schools | Colleges |
| Lingfield | ~ |
| Address History | Employment History |
| 1893 - 79 Appleby Street, Haggerston | 1901 - School |
| 1901 - Dunes Estate, Lingfield, Surrey (with uncle) | 1911 - Domestic Servant |
| 1911 - 2 Stanhope Cottages, Lingfield (with uncle) | |
| 1914 - Stoneleigh (Soldiers Who Died in the Great War) | |






