3rd Battalion. Grenadier Guards. Regimental number: 31615.
Early life:
Arthur’s parents were Robert Henry Atkinson and Ann Atkinson née Walker, who were married at St. Mary’s Church, Eastwood in Keighley on the 1st of February 1880. At marriage, Robert was a bachelor aged 21 and employed as a shopman. Ann was a 21 year old spinster and they were both living in Keighley.
They’d had three children before Arthur, Mary Ann was born around 1883 and Willie, born around 1891. (their third child could not be found but is mentioned as having ‘died’ in the 1911 census.)
Prior to Arthur’s death they had lived at 27 Barrett Street then 14 Hill Street and had recently moved to 18 Acres Street when Arthur was born in 1898. His birth was registered at Keighley in the first quarter of that year.
In the 1901 census they were living at 18 Acres Street in Keighley. The family members were his father Robert aged 42 and an Assurance Agent, Ann aged 42 looking after the home, Mary A. aged 18 and employed as a weaver, Willie D. aged ten and Arthur aged three.
Also living with them were three boarders, they were Mary Atkin aged 41, a machine minder at a worsted mill; Lily Longbottom aged 35, a worsted drawer and Nanny Clarkson aged 20, a cheese winder at a worsted mill.
By the time of the 1911 census they were living at 11, Third Avenue in Keighley having moved there from Acres Street between 1908 and 1909. Robert and Ann had been married for 31 years and produced four children, three of whom were still alive.
Father Robert was aged 52 and still and assurance agent, Ann was looking after the family home, Mary Ann had left home. Willie Dennis was aged 20 and a textile machinery fitter, Arthur was aged 13 and a bobbin taker-off at a worsted mill.
Arthur married Ida Broadley at St. Mary’s Church in Eastwood on the 13th of April 1918. Arthur was a 20 year old bachelor employed as an engineer and his address was 11, Third Avenue in Keighley. His wife Ida was a 21 year old spinster living at 8, Chatsworth Street in Keighley.
War service:
According to the local newspaper record, Arthur joined the Grenadier Guards in April 1918 which must be around the time he married Ida. He had previously served for three years with the local volunteer battalion but we have not any Army Service records for his dates and service. He appears to have enlisted with the Grenadier Guards in early summer 1918 with the regimental number 31615 and as far as we know he went out to France in the middle of September 1918, serving for a month there before he was killed in action on the 10th of October.
WO-95/1219/1. War diary of the 3rd Battalion, Grenadier Guards:
CANAL DU NORD.
Some details of a narrative of operations in the war diary from 1918:
21st Sept:
This states that a draft of 66 other ranks arrived with the unit in the field on this date, it is possible that Arthur was with this draft.
25th Sept:
A heavy enemy barrage descended on the whole of the front line at 9 a.m. and an enemy raid was repulsed. Three of our men were killed and six were wounded from the barrage. The raid had no casualties on our side. One German solder was wounded, but he escaped.
27th Sept:
A large operation was successful with the line moved into new positions at SLAG HEAP. 26 Germans were killed and 83 prisoners were taken. Our casualties were 12 wounded and 2 missing. 3 of the wounded remained in the line.
A detailed account of the actions leading up to and including the 10th of October 1918:
DOIGNIES
October 1st:
The Battalion working party on the HAVRINCOURT – FLAEQUIERES ROAD from 0900 to 1600.
2nd: At 0900 hours the Major General watched the Battalion, carrying out practice attack.
3rd: Battalion parade under the Adjutant.
4th: Training. Demonstration of smoke rifle grenades.
5th: Route march, finishing up with a practice attack in a smoke grenade barrage.
6th: 10.00 Church Parade.
12.00 Warning order received to move in evening.
16.00 Move postponed until 7th.
17.00 Warning order received to attack shortly.
PREMY CHAPELLE
October 7th: 17.30 Battalion moved to Camp at PREMY CHAPELLE.
8th: 04.30 Attack by 62nd Division.
06.30 Battalion at one hours notice.
11.00 Battalion moved to MASNIERES.
MASNIERES.
13.15 Battalion was reported present in concentration area.
23.15 Battalion marched off to assembly area.
October 9th:
02.00 Orders for the attack were received.
02.15 Battalion was reported present in assembly positions.
06.00 Battalion HQ and Reserve Company moved to FORENVILLE.
FORENVILLE
06.30 The objective was reported occupied. No enemy had been encountered and there has been absolutely no hostile shelling. About 25 casualties were reported from our own barrage.
WAMBAIX COPSE
08.30 Red dotted line (E of WAMBAIX COPSE) reported occupied.
08.45 Battalion HQ and no. 3 Company moved to Southern edge of WAMBAIX COPSE: Message was sent to transport for ‘A’ Echelon.
10.30 Green dotted line (ESTOURNEL) was reported occupied without apposition.
Enemy M.G’s were reported firing from the CAMBRAI – BEAUVOIS ROAD.
1st Brigade, on the right were reported not to be up in line with us.
No. 2 Company on the left ordered to press forward to the CAMBRAI-BEAUVOIS ROAD.
16.00 Report from no 2. Company (time 1500) reporting IGNIEL and blue dotted line occupied, but heavy Casualties being suffered from M.G.s on right and from Enemy 5.9’s firing at long range. A patrol of Oxfordshire Hussars was sent out through 1st Coldstream Guards on our left.
16.30 Orders received to obtain touch with Cavalry Patrol in B.17.c.
As patrol had been withdrawn to V.22.c., the Commanding Officer decided to suspend this operation.
17.30 Orders received to put out an Outpost line after dark with 2 companies East of CAMBRAI-BRAUVOIS ROAD and 2 companies in green dotted line East of ESTOURMEL.
18.30 Warning order receive of probable further advance in the morning.
20.30 Battalion HQs moved to GRANDE SHANTELL H.5.a.7.0. Outpost line reported complete 23.50 hours.
No. 1 Company on the right, No. 2 Company on the left, No. 4 in Right support, No. 3 in Left support.
October 10th:
03.00 Orders for advance received. 1st Battalion Scots Guards to pass through outpost line at 05.00 hours and continue the advance by bounds, the Battalion to be in Support and move astride the ESTOURMEL – CARNIERES BOUSSIERES-ST HILAIRE ROAD, No. 3 Company on Right, No. 4 Company of Left, No. 1 in support, No. 2 in Reserve.
12.30 Battalion headquarters and Reserve Company established E of BOUSSIERES.
BOUSSIERIES
13.30 1st Battalion Scots Guards held up West of ST. HILAIRE.
19.00 1st Battalion Scots Guards ordered to establish an outpost line for the night. The Battalion found two companies in close support under the aiders of O.C. 1st Scots Guards.
1st Coldstream Guards placed under the orders of the C.O.
October 11th:
Orders received that 3rd Guards Brigade would pass through outpost line and continue the advance at 05.00 hours, Battalion was ordered to concentrate in U.30.d. and U.35.c. West of ST. VAAST.
ST HILIARE.
09.00 3rd Guards Brigade held up by M.G.’s and situation at ST VAAST obscure.
The Commanding Officer concentrated the Battalion in N.W. portion of ST. HILAIRE.
12.45 All Companies were comfortably installed and plentiful supply of vegetable and Forage was found.
13.15 Estimated casualties up to this point from morning of the 9th – 4 killed, 51 wounded, 2 gassed.
14.00 Warning order received that Battalion would remain in ST. HILAIRE for the night.
Private Arthur Henry Atkinson is likely to have been one of the men reported killed in action on the 10th of October 1918.
According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, three men were killed on this date. Two are buried in Grevillers British Cemetery to the West of Bapaume. Arthur is the only one who was moved after the war. He was initially buried in an isolated spot just to the North West of the village of Estourmel and his grave was exhumed and moved to the Naves Communal Cemetery Extension along with several others, the concentration form being date stamped on the 6th of April 1920.
Keighley News 16th November 1918:
Private A. H. Atkinson, of the Grenadier Guards, and of 2, Chatsworth Street, Dalton Lane, has been killed in action in France. He joined the Army in April last, and had been in France a month. For three years before enlistment he was an active member of the 6th West Riding Volunteers. He was formerly employed as a fitter by *Mr H. Widdup, Park Street.
*This was likely to be Mr Herbert Widdop of the Invincible Engine Works, situated at the junction of Parker Street (now Worth Way) and Greengate Road. They manufactured high quality marine diesel engines and if we’re correct, the mill building is still there today, in use as a gym.
Remembrance:
Arthur is named on his Commonwealth War Grave headstone at Naves Communal Cemetery Extension which is located about four miles East, North, East of Cambrai in France.
His widow Ida requested the following inscription on his headstone:
“Saviour In This Gracious Keeping, Still We Leave Our Loved One Sleeping.”
Locally, Arthur is named in the Borough of Keighley roll of honour book at Keighley Library.
Two insertions were placed by his family in the local newspaper shortly after his death:
Keighley News. 16th November 1918:
ATKINSON.-In loving memory of Pte. A. H. Atkinson, Grenadier Guards, killed in action on October 10th, 1918, in his 21st year.
He lies beside his comrades,
Heroes one and all
Now safely in the Homeland,
He’s answered the last roll-call.
From his loving Wife, Ida, 8, Chatsworth Street, Keighley
ATKINSON-In loving memory of Pte. A. H. Atkinson, Grenadier Guards, youngest son of Mr. R. H. Atkinson, killed in action on October 10th, 1918, in his 21st year.
Saviour, In Thy gracious keeping.
Leave we now our loved one sleeping.
Unknown to the world, be stands by our side,
And whispers, “Dear loved ones, death cannot divide.”
From Father, Brother Willie, and Sister, and Cissie, Aunt Mary, and Lily, No. 11, Third Avenue, Keighley,
Post war:
Ida was Arthur’s next of kin and would have received any personal effects. She received his remaining Army pay amounting to £6 11s 3d which included a war gratuity payment of £5, on 13th May 1919.
She would also have received his service medals which were the British War Medal and Victory Medal and a bronze war memorial plaque and memorial scroll inscribed with his name.
She applied for and received a Dependant’s pension of 13 shillings and nine pence per week for life, beginning on the 12th of May 1919. Arthur’s father also has a pension card but this is cross referred to Ida and she received the pension. It’s possible he was Arthur’s next of kin in his service record, but as Arthur and Ida were married around the time of his enlistment Ida took precedent as his widow. She is named as such in all other records.
In the 1921 census Ida is aged 24 and widowed, living with her family at 8b, Frederick Street in Keighley. She is the house keeper. Her family members at this address were her father Herbert Broadley a widower aged 55 and a railway engine driver for the Midland Railway; brother Edgar aged 25, a *faller setter for Walker and Mitchells, Woolcomb faller makers; brother Arthur aged 22 and a fitter for the gas and oil company; and her sister Edna aged 15 and a cloth mender on commission for Eccles and Mulligan, burlers and menders.
*faller maker
any operative engaged in one or more operations of making or assembling parts or mechanism, e.g. faller wire, shaft rod, sickles, guides, of faller motions of mule spinning or other textile machines; includes faller finisher, faller setter.
From the Dictionary of Occupational Terms in the 1921 census:
Ida died at just 28 years of age, in the first quarter of 1926.
Information sources:
West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1813-1935.
England & Wales, Free BMD Birth Index, 1837-1915.
West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1910.
1901 England Census.
1911 England Census.
West Yorkshire, England, Marriages and Banns, 1813-1935.
England & Wales, Marriage Index, 1916-2005.
Keighley News archives at Keighley Library.
British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920.
World War I Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Naves Communal Cemetery Extension.
Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919.
World War I Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923.
Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929.
1921 England Census.
England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007.
Graces Guide
Dictionary of Occupational Terms in the 1921 census.
