Name
Arthur James Springham
29 April 1881
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
02/09/1918
38
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
33388
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
VIS-EN-ARTOIS MEMORIAL
Panel 4 and 5.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the High Wych War Memorial, Not on the Bishop's Stortford memorials
Pre War
Arthur James Springham was born on 29 April 1881 in Cottage No. 7, Allen’s Green, High Wych, Sawbridgeworth to James and Sarah Springham, and baptised at High Wych on 3 July 1881.
On the 1891 and 1901 Census the family were living at Allen’s Green. In December 1900 he was appointed as a postman for Harlow, Hatfield and Broad Oak. He married Edith Ellen Wybrew on 21 March 1910 at High Wych and moved to Bury Road, Harlow and shortly after joined the Harlow Fire Brigade.
On Wednesday 22nd June 1910, he was a member of the Harlow Fire Brigade who participated in the St John’s Fete at Harlow, and he won two silver medals in the contests organised between different fire brigades. On the 1911 Census he was visiting his parents with his wife and daughter Doris at Allen’s Green, High Wych, Sawbridgeworth, Herts. His occupation was given as a rural postman. (N.B. the Census form for their home in Bury Road, Harlow indicated “Family Away”)
They later had a son Cyril born in 1913. Edith and their children moved back to Edith’s parents address in The Square, Ugley, Bishop’s Stortford when Arthur was called up.
Wartime Service
Arthur initially enlisted with the Essex Regiment at Harlow under reg. no. 30539. He later transferred to 1st Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment under reg. no. 33388.
In September 1918 the battalion was engaged in the Battle of Drocourt-Queant, and on 2 September 1918, Arthur was killed during the advance at Fremicourt. He was one of 95 killed or wounded in the Bedfordshire Regiment that day.
Additional Information
His widow Edith received a war gratuity of £9 10s and pay owing of £9 13s 11d. She also received a pension of £1 0s 5d a week from 31 March 1919.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
