Name
Arthur Henry Hill
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Biography
Arthur Hill was listed in the Absent Voter Records for Abbots Langley in Autumn 1918 and Spring 1919. He was initially identified from the Absent Voter Records and was not recorded elsewhere in the Abbots Langley Parish records. In the Absent Voter Records Arthur was listed serving as a Leading Aircraftman with the Royal Air Force (RAF). In the Absent Voter Records Arthur’s address was listed at Primrose Hill, Abbots Langley.
Arthur joined up with the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) on 10th May 1916 and was assigned to HMS “President II”, which was a Shore Establishment in London, and used as an administrative base for many RNAS personnel who served at other bases. When he joined he gave his occupation as a Guillotine Cutter at a Paper Works, and noted that he lived at Primrose Hill. The UK Royal Navy Registers of Seamen’s Services recorded that he served at an air base at Aberdeen from 15th December 1916 to 23rd August 1917 where he was promoted from Aircraft Mechanic 2nd Class to the rank of Leading Aircraftman.
From 24th August to 30th August 1917 he briefly spent some time at the RNAS base at Peterhead, before returning to Aberdeen on 31st August, and remained there until 21st November 1917. He was then transferred to Felixstowe on 22nd November and served there until 21st October 1918. During this period, on 1st April 1918, the Royal Naval Air Service and the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) amalgamated to form the Royal Air Force (RAF). Arthur’s final posting was to RAF “Daedalus”, which was a former RNAS base at Lee on Solent. He served there from 22nd October 1918 to 31st March 1919, when he was demobilised.
Arthur was born on 9th January 1893 at Kings Langley, He was one of four children born to Arthur (senior) and Eliza Hill. In the 1901 Census the family lived at Primrose Hill, Abbots Langley, and Henry (senior) worked as a Paper Finisher at a Paper Mill. By 1911 the family lived at Railway Terrace, Abbots Langley. Arthur (senior) and Arthur (junior) both worked at a Paper Mill. Arthur (senior) was employed on Calendar work, and Arthur (junior) operated a a Guillotine.
Arthur Hill survived the War as did his cousin Ernest Hill, who lived at Asylum Road, Abbots Langley.
Additional Information
Formerly Royal Naval Air Service
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
