Name
Arthur Eggleton
1887
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
08/07/1916
29
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
8687
Northamptonshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star (with Clasp & Roses), British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 11 A and 11 D.
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the missing.
UK & Other Memorials
Wigginton Village Memorial
Pre War
Arthur Eggleton was born in 1887, in Wigginton, Herts, son of Thomas Eggleton (B 1848 in Wigginton, Herts) and Annie Eggleton (nee Maple) (B 1853 in Tring, Herts).
1891 Census records Arthur aged 3, living with his parents, brothers James 10, Charles 8 and George 3, Behind The Old Brewhouse, Church Row, Wigginton, Herts.
Arthur's father Thomas died in 1898, aged recorded as 51 years.
By 1901 now aged 13, Arthur had left school and was working as a Farm Labourer, living with his widowed mother, brothers Charles 18, George 16, Thomas 4 and sister Annie 8 at The Bottom, Wigginton, Herts.
Arthur enlisted in the 4th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment Militia in December 1904, with the Service No. 5206. At the time of his enlistment he was working as a Farm Labourer at Champneys Farm. In February 1908 Arthur transferred from the Militia to the regular army, joining the Northamptonshire Regiment with the Service No. 8687.
1911 Census records Arthur aged 24, single and a Private in the 2nd Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment, stationed at the Floriana Barracks in Malta.
Wartime Service
On the outbreak of war it is assumed Arthur was still serving with the 2nd Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment. The 2nd Battalion was in Alexandria, Egypt in August 1914, when war broke out. They returned to the UK in October 1914 and went to Hursley Park, near Winchester, Cumming under the Command of 24th Brigade in the 8th Division. The Battalion arrived in Le Havre, France on the 5th November 1914. His medal card indicates he landed in France on 6th November 1914.
Arthur was Killed in Action on 8th July 1916. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing. Pier and Face 11A and 11D.
Additional Information
The value of his effect £12-13s-3d, Pay Owing was slit between his family. £11, War Gratuity went to his mother Annie. His elder brother Charles also served in the Northamptonshire Regiment and survived the war.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Stuart Osborne.
