Name
Arnold Middleton Waterhouse
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
25/05/1915
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
1801
London Regiment *1
1st/21st (County of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LE TOURET MEMORIAL
Panel 45.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Watford Grammar School Memorial, Watford, Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance
Pre War
Son of David and Ruth Helen (nee MIDDLETON) WATERHOUSE of Watford.
His parents married 1887 in the Worksop, Notts, district. David died 4 April 1926 in Oxhey, Herts, aged 68, and was buried 8 April in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Ruth died 27 May 1936 in Watford aged 72, and was buried 30 May, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
Arnold was born 28 July 1891 in Watford, and attended first Victoria Infants’ School, Watford; then Beechen Grove Board School, Watford, from 5 March to 17 September 1900; then Watford Grammar School from September 1900 to July 1907. He resided in Watford.
On the 1901 Census, aged 9 he lived in Watford, with his parents and five siblings. On the 1911 Census, a shipping office clerk aged 19, he still lived in Watford, with his parents and five siblings.
Wartime Service
He enlisted August 1914 in Camberwell, London; was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 16 March 1915, and was killed in action at Givenchy.
Additional Information
Arnold and his brother Stanley are also commemorated on the family headstone in Watford Cemetery. Their inscription reads:
ALSO OF HIS [David Waterhouse] DEAR SONS
STANLEY AND ARNOLD WHO FOUGHT AND DIED IN THE GREAT WAR.
TO FALL ASLEEP IS NOT TO DIE, TO DWELL WITH CHRIST IS BETTER LIFE.
The published Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance entry reads: “WATERHOUSE, ARNOLD MIDDLETON. School period: September, 1900, to July, 1907. Private, 1st Surrey Regiment; 21st City of London Regiment. Enlisted in August, 1914; killed in action at Givenchy, 26th May, 1915.”
Unfortunately, Arnold’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
There is an article about Arnold in the Watford Illustrated dated 5 June 1915; two articles about and a Death announcement for Arnold in the West Herts and Watford Observer also dated 5 June 1915; plus an In Memoriam from the Grammar School in the issue dated 31 July 1915. Arnold is also commemorated on his parent's grave in Vicarage Road Cemetery; his brother David died 6 February 1921 and also features on Watford Borough Roll of Honour.
*1 Believed more correctly, (County of London) Bn. London Regiment (First Surrey Rifles).
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
