Name
Arthur H James Worbey
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
27/03/1918
35
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
22933
Bedfordshire Regiment
4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 5.
France
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
All Saints Church Lychgate, Willian, All Saints Church Memorial, Willian
Pre War
Arthur Henry James Worbey was born in Willian, Letchworth in 1883 to James Worbey, farm labourer, and Elizabeth Field (nee Burrows).
On the 1871 Census the family of James, Elizabeth (straw plaiter) and Francis James (born 1869) were living at Baldock Road, Willian, Herts.
On the 1881 Census the family of parents, Francis J, John Edward (born 1872), Alice Annie (born 1875), Edith Emma (born 1877), Lilian Lizzie (born 1881), with in Laws John (born 1806) & Elizabeth (born 1808) Burrows at 11, Lordship Cottages, Willian.
On the 1891 Census the family of parents, Lilian, Arthur, Mabel and Frederick were living at 11, Lordship Cottages, Willian.
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, Edith, Arthur, Mabel and Frederick were living at 11, Lordship Cottages, Willian.
Arthur married Maud Keturah Mitchell in 1908 in Willian.
On the 1911 Census Arthur and his wife Maud together with son Thomas (born 18 Mar 1909) were living with James (widowed father) and Frederick, at 38, Bray Cottages, Willian, Letchworth. There would be a further son, Herbert A J born 22 Dec 1913.
Wartime Service
Arthur was enlisted in the Bedfordshire Regiment as Private 22933, no Service record was found for him. He was posted to 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion of the Regiment which had been converted for War Service and landed at Le Havre on 25 Jul 1916 to become part of 190 Brigade of 63rd (Royal Naval) Division. The Division was at the Battle of the Ancre (13-18 Nov) as part of the Battles of the Somme 1916. It took part in the Operations on the Ancre in 1917 and in Miramount (17-18 Feb 1917). In 1917 they took part in the Battles of Arras at 2nd Battle of the Scarpe (23-24 Apr) and Arleux (28-29 Apr) before moving to the Ypres Sector to take part in the Battles of 3rd Ypres (Passchendaele) at the 2nd Battle of Passchendaele (26 Oct-10 Nov).In 1918 the German Spring Offensive was launched and the Division were involved at the Battles of St Quentin (21-23 Mar) and 1st Bapaume (24-25 Mar). It was probably in this last action that Arthur was reported Missing, his was presumed to have been on 27 Mar 1918, His remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Arras Memorial.
Additional Information
War gratuity of £10 10s and arrears of £5 3s 5d was paid to his widow.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
