Name
Arthur Homans (MM)
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
36178
Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
1/4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Military Medal
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Biography
Arthur Homans was born in the Summer of 1879 at Abbots Langley. He was one of seven children (six sons and one daughter) born to William and Anne Homans. The family was recorded in all of the Census from 1881 to 1911 living at Railway Terrace, Abbots Langley. William worked as a Plate Layer for the Railway throughout this period. In the 1901 and 1911 Census Arthur was recorded employed at a Paper Manufacturing Company as a Commercial Clerk.
The Abbots Langley Parish Magazine Roll of Honour first recorded Arthur in February 1917, when at the age of 38 he served with the 68th Training Reserve Battalion. In the September 1917 Parish Magazine he was reported wounded. It is presumed that by this time he had transferred to the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, as it is unlikely that he would have been wounded whilst serving with a Training Battalion. However the first time that the Roll of Honour recorded him serving with that unit was in January 1918.
On 22nd June 1918 the West Herts & Watford Observer reported
“Private Arthur Homans, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, of Railway Terrace, Kings Langley (sic), has been awarded the Military Medal for gallantry in action on April 9th. Private Homans was in the 55th Division”
In August 1918 the Parish Magazine recorded:
“We have to congratulate Arthur Homans, of Railway Terrace, upon having been awarded the Military Medal”.
Arthur was recorded in the Autumn 1918, Spring 1919 and Autumn 1919 Absent Voter Records, serving with the 1/4th Battalion of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, and living at Railway Terrace, Abbots Langley. The subsequent Absent Voter Records noted that Arthur remained in the Army after the War.
Additional Information
Formerly 68th Training Reserve Battalion
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
