Name
Arthur Sidney Pitts
08/01/1896
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
20/09/1917
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
39579
Gloucestershire Regiment
8th Bn
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
AEROPLANE CEMETERY
VIII. A. 6.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
HE NOBLY ANSWERED HIS COUNTRY'S CALL
UK & Other Memorials
Kings Langley Village Memorial, All Saints Church Memorial, Kings Langley, John Dickinson & Co Memorial, Apsley Mills, Apsley, Not listed on the Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
Arthur Sidney Pitts was born on 8 January 1896, in Croydon, Surrey, son of Arthur Edward Pitts, a Baker by trade and Sophie Pitts, (nee Lymage). One of four children Maude Louise (B 1894), Arthur Ernest (B 1895 – 1896), and Rose Florence (B 1898).
Arthur was Baptised on 12 April 1896, at St Paul’s Church, Croydon, Surrey. There address at the time was 56, Newark Road, Croydon, Surrey.
The 1901 Census records Arthur aged 5, living with his parents, and two sisters at 13, Newbridge, Cefn, Wrexham, Denbighshire, Wale’s. His father’s occupation is a Journeyman Baker.
1911 Census records Arthur 15, sister Rose 13, and their parents, living in Langley Hill, Kings Langley, Herts, Arthur is working at the John Dickinson & Co, Paper Mill. His father is still employed as a Baker.
Wartime Service
Arthur travelled to the County Town of Hertford to enlist in the Hertfordshire Regiment, he was issued with the service number 4933, (his service number indicates he enlisted between April and May 1915).
He was later transferred to the 8th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment with the service number 39579. Arthur was Killed in Action at the Battle of Menin Road, on 20 September 1917.
In 1918, Arthur’s sister Maud Louise Pitts, Married Corporal 317763 Herbert Hall, of the Tank Corps, he died on 5 January 1920, and is buried in All Saint Churchyard, Kings Langley.
Additional Information
His mother Sophie Pitts was awarded a dependents pension of 5/- a week, for life, from 6 November 1918. The value of his effects was £3-14s-7d, Pay Owing and £10-10s-0d, War Gratuity, which went to his Mother Sophie. His father, Mr. Arthur Edward Pitts, Rose Cottage, The Holt, Chidden, Hambledon, Hants. ordered his headstone inscription: “HE NOBLY ANSWERED HIS COUNTRY'S CALL”.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
