Name
Arthur Edward Atkins
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
27/09/1916
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
16193
Bedfordshire Regiment
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CONNAUGHT CEMETERY, THIEPVAL
II. F. 4.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, St James' Church Memorial, Watford Fields, Not on the Hertford memorials
Pre War
Son of Emily Jane (nee BIRCH) ATKINS of Watford, and the late Arthur Edward ATKINS.
His parents married 1898 in the Watford district. Arthur died 1916 in Watford aged 39, and was buried 29 November in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford. Emily remarried 1922 in the Watford district to Arthur Henry JAGGARD. He died 1923 in Watford aged 55, and was buried 9 February in Vicarage Road Cemetery; Emily died 1945 in Watford aged 67, and was buried 22 February, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
Arthur was born 1895 in Watford, and resided in Hertford.
On the 1901 Census, he [and all the family] is proving elusive. On the 1911 Census, an errand boy aged 15, he lived in Watford Fields, with his parents and four siblings.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Watford; was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 26 July 1915, and was killed in action during the successful clearance and capture of the last remaining part of Thiepval in German hands.
Additional Information
Unfortunately, Arthur’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing. There is a Death announcement for Arthur in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 14 October 1916; plus In Memoriams in the issues dated 29 September 1917 and 28 September 1918.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
