Name
Arthur Brice
1872
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/03/1915
45
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
3/8795
Bedfordshire Regiment
3rd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
FELIXSTOWE (WALTON) CEMETERY
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Hitchin memorials
Pre War
Arthur was born in 1872 in Hitchin and baptised on 22 May 1872 in Hitchin. His parents were Alfred and Jane Brice (née Stokes), and they married in Hitchin on 17 July 1869.
In 1871, before Arthur’s birth his parents were living at 34 The Folly, Hitchin and Alfred was agricultural labourer, but around 1874 he became a police constable and was one in 1881 when they were living Brewhouse Lane, near St Andrews Street, Hitchin. Alfred was (32) and Jane (31) and they now had two children Arthur (8) and Alfred (7).
Sadly, it seems that Arthur’s father, Alfred, died by drowning either suicide or accidentally. The Herts Mercury of October 19th, 1889, reported that his body was found in the River Lee in Hertford. It was reported that he had been in the Police for about 15 years, had become addicted to drink and was in trouble with his superior officers. He had been stationed in Bayford but had been required to be in Hertford. Apparently he was the worse for drink and was expected to be reported for that, also he had other personal problems; his eldest son (Arthur) had run away from home a few days before – he would have been about 17, his next son was ‘an inmate of the infirmary’ and it was reported that ‘his wife was drinking from house to house in the town’ (same night). He was found in uniform and drowned. The Coroner decided that there was no evidence that he had committed suicide, although there might be suspicion of it.
His brother Joseph who was also a policeman, gave evidence of event on that night.
Arthur had probably enlisted, possibly in 1889 and into the Royal Muster Fusiliers, and if so he probably served in the Second Boer War and then possibly in India and Rangoon, Burma.
It seems that his mother re-married, marrying George Dawbon in Hitchin in 1896. It seems she was widowed again as she was found in 1901 boarding at 4 Gascoine Road, Hitchin (near Queen’s Street) with George Warner and his mother. She was still lodging with him 10 years later.
Arthur married Margaret Shea, born in Killarney, Co Kerry, Ireland on 24/8/1870, probably in 1899, but where is not clear as she had a daughter, Mary Francis Shea 19 born in Charleston, Boston, USA, so at some point she had been living there. No record of a previous marriage has yet been found. By 1911 they were all living at 42 Bunyan Road, Hitchin. Arthur working as a boiler maker's labourer. The census recorded they had been married for 12 years with no children (together).
In the same census Arthur’s brother, Alfred was married with a child and living in Hertford.
Officially recorded as born, living and enlisting in Hitchin.
Wartime Service
Army Reserve, but probably not to fight. As he is recorded as dying in Felixstowe, this would appear to be the case.
There appears to be an entry for him in the National Roll of the Great War which probably gives us some information, however these were normally placed by family members using what they knew and are not always 100% correct - in this case there is a problem with the date. We know that Arthur died on 21 March 1915, however his entry gives that date as 23 March 1919 and it records him in the 5th Battalion when all other records give the 3rd. Clearly this raises doubt, however it records an address of 48, Milton Rd., Southampton, which matches the address given for his wife in CWGC records, and for this reason we believe the entry applies to this Arthur Brice.
So his entry records that Arthur was mobilised at the beginning of the war and served at various stations and was engaged on important duties. It suggests that despite wanting to go overseas his was prevented by his medical fitness.
We know that Arthurs died in Felixstowe of vascular disease of the heart.
Additional Information
After his death £3 11s 4d pay owing was authorised to go to his widow on 30 November 1915. Later, a war gratuity of £3 was authorised to be paid to her on 16 August 1919.
His pension cards record Maggie Brice as his widow and his next of kin, living at 15 Carlton Place, Southampton, Hants. She was awarded a pension of 15s a week from 20 September 1915, but at some point she also received 18s 6s as arrears to the pension.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild
