Private. 12th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment. Regimental number: 36702.
Previously, Northumberland Fusiliers. Regimental number: 29622.
Early life:
Arthur’s parents were William Walter Wakefield and Louisa Wakefield née Moody who were married in Brentford, Middlesex in the second quarter of 1881.
Arthur was born in 1887 at Highworth in Swindon, Wiltshire, with his birth registered there in the second quarter of the year. He was baptised in St. Paul’s Church at Swindon on the 10th of June 1887.
In the 1891 census the family were living at number 10, Princes Street in New Swindon. Father William was 33 and a general labourer; Mother Louisa was 41 and looking after the family home. The children were Frederick, aged seven, James, aged six, Herbert, aged five, Arthur P., aged three and Edith G., aged just eleven months. Also living there was a lodger, Robert Dean, who was a 58 year old accountant.
By the 1901 census they had moved to Haworth. They were living at 31, Alma Street in the village. Father William was aged 43 and employed as a wool comber. Mother Louisa was aged 52 and at home. The children were Frederick aged 17, a wool sorter; James aged 16, a Bibbing (Bobbin?) pegger at a woollen mill; Herbert aged 15 and Percy aged 13 were both spinners; Edith aged ten, Alice aged nine and Sydney aged five would all have been attending school whole time.
In the 1911 census the family were still living at 31, Alma Street in Haworth. William aged 53 and Louisa aged 61 had been married for 30 years and had nine children, two of whom had since died. Six were living with them at Haworth and they were Frederick aged 28, a warehouseman; Herbert aged 25, a wool sorter; Arthur P. aged 23, a cotton warp twister; Edith G. aged 20 and Alice M. aged 19 were both weavers; Frank S. aged 15, was a worsted spinner.
Arthur married Mary Florence Smith at Oakworth on the 17th of April, 1915 and their marriage was registered at Keighley in the second quarter of that year. Mary was from 5, New Street in Oakworth.
War service:
Arthur attested at Haworth for ‘General Service’ for the duration of the war, on the 8th of December 1915 aged 28 years and 7 months. He was a warp twister by trade and was living at 5, New Street in Oakworth which is off Dockroyd Lane. He was placed in the B Reserve to await his call up.
He was given a medical on 16th May 1916 when his medical details were: Height, 5 feet 3 inches; Weight: 116 lbs; Chest: 34 inches, with ‘good’ physical development. His age was 29 years and 1 month.
His attestation was approved on the 10th of June 1916 when he was mobilized to serve with the 30th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers and his regimental number was 29622. He was transferred from the training reserve to on the 1st of September 1916.
Transferred to the 7th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment on the 9th November 1916
Arthur was posted overseas and embarked on the 28th of November 1916, arriving in France the next day.
Separation allowance for his wife Mary Florence was 9 shillings per week and the allotment of Percy’s pay was 3 shillings and six pence.
He was reposted to the 12th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment on the 13th of December 1916 and joined his battalion the next day. He was reported missing on 3rd May 1917 and regarded for official purposes as missing on or since the 3rd of May 1917.
His total service was 1 year and 147 days.
WO-95/2357/3. War diary:
12th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment. (within the 31st Division War Diaries)
May 1917:
1/5/17,2/5/17 11 pm.
Left the German trenches at B25b and ###field(?) the RAILWAY CUTTING in B.21.c.
Battalion moved up into the assembly positions in no man’s land at B.18.b.0.5. with the 11th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment on the right and the Composite Brigade of the 2nd Division on our left.
The right flank was at the Northern boundary of OPPY WOOD, the left flank a line drawn through B.12.c.8.4. to C.7.a.7.1., the final objective being from C.7.a.7.1. to C.7.d.2.5.
The assembling took place in brilliant moonlight over quite unknown country, and with poor guides(?) The enemy evidently saw the troops assembling and put up an intense barrage followed by another one later. This considerably disorganised things and at zero hour, the blackest part of the night, the troops moved forward to the attack. They failed to obtain their objectives and were compelled to withdraw to the assembly trench where they remained all day under heavy shellfire. The Battalion were relieved at 3/5/17. 10 pm. 10 pm. by the 11th Battalion East Lancashire Regiment.
Moved out of the line to NISSEN HUT CAMP at G.4.a.
Casualties in this period:
May 1. Casualties: wounded 3.
May 2. Casualties: wounded 3.
May 3. Casualties:
Officers: Killed 2. Missing 6. Wounded 1. Died of wounds 1.
Other ranks: Killed: 7. Wounded: 127. Missing: 150.
(Arthur was one of the 150 men who went missing on the 3rd May.)
Keighley News 30th June 1917, page 3:
It has been officially announced during the past week that the following Keighley and District soldiers are missing: East Yorkshire Regiment, Private A. P. Wakefield (36702).
Keighley News 14th July 1917, page 3:
His photograph appeared in the newspaper on the above date, but only to state that he was missing and there was no accompanying text to explain the circumstances.
Post war:
On the 17th of May 1919 Mary was apparently living on Slaymaker lane, having moved from 5, New Street off Dockroyd Lane. This is when the bronze war memorial plaque and scroll was confirmed. The scroll arrived on 6th July, 1920 with the plaque being forwarded when receipt of the scroll was confirmed.
On 27th May 1919 her address was 1, Sykes Lane, Oakworth when she confirmed Arthur’s family details.
Mary was Arthur’s next of kin and she received a payment from his Army pay account of £2 1s 3d on 29th April 1918, plus a £3 war gratuity payment made to her on 21st October 1919.
Her pension was preceded by a grant of £5 paid on 30th of August 1918. The pension was awarded with effect from 31st December 1917, of 13 shillings and nine pence. This amount was increased to £1 3s 3d on 3rd September 1919, for life.
In the 1921 census Mary was living at 1, Sykes Lane Top in Oakworth with her parents John and Mary Elizabeth Smith. John was aged 57 and employed as a warp dresser for William Haggas at Oakworth Mill and Mary was 56 and on home duties.
Arthur’s widow Mary Florence, was aged 31 and a weaver in a worsted mill for Hattersley and Son’s Limited at Spring Head Mill in Oakworth, off the bottom of Mytholmes Lane. (This mill has since been converted to housing.)
One of Arthur’s medals was signed for by Mary on 26th June 1922 but the record is very faded. He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal for his war service.
Mary was later living at 4, Worth Valley View which is a short terrace off Sykes Lane in Oakworth. She was recorded there in the electoral rolls from 1930 until she moved to 11, Cecil Street in Cross Roads and then moved to 7, Gordon Street in Cross Roads in 1935 and was here until at least 1957.
In the 1939 Register she was aged about 49 and was recorded living ‘on private means’ at 7, Gordon Street.
Mary Florence Wakefield died in 1975 aged about 85 and her death was recorded in Keighley in the third quarter of that year.
She remained as Arthur’s widow and never remarried after his death in the war.
Remembrance:
Private Arthur Percy Wakefield is named on the Arras Memorial, Bays 4 and 5, with the rest of his comrades in the East Yorkshire Regiment who have no known grave.
Locally he is named on the Oakworth Great War Centenary roll of honour on display at Oakworth Community Hall.
His name does not appear on any other war memorial or roll of honour in Keighley and the Worth Valley.
Information sources:
England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915.
England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915.
Wiltshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1916.
1891 England Census.
1901 England Census.
1911 England Census.
England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915.
British Army WWI Service Records, 1914-1920.
Keighley News archives at Keighley Library.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919.
Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929.
World War I Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923.
British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920.
WWI Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920.
WO-95/2357/3. War diary, 12th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment.
National Archives WWI War Diaries 1914-1920.
1921 England Census.
West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962.
1939 England and Wales Register.
England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007.
