Bonfield, Arthur

Arthur was born at Ashwell on 28 November 1885, the second son of John George and Elizabeth Jane (nee Lester) Bonfield.  He was a pupil at the Merchant Taylors School in Ashwell.

Arthur, living in America, was drafted into the American Expeditionary Force on 5 June 1917.  All American troops served in the Western European Theatre of War.  He survived the War and returned to America.

He is commemorated on the St Mary’s Church Ashwell Roll of Honour.

In 1913 Arthur went to work as a mine clothing salesman in International Falls, Minnesota, USA and a year later was promoted and moved across the river which forms the border between USA and Canada, to Fort Francis, Ontario, Canada.

Arthur married Elizabeth Eva Breen on 27 June 1922 in Seattle, Washington.  They had one daughter, Elizabeth Breen Bonfield, born 1 February 1925.

The Seattle, Washington census for 1940 shows Arthur as a salesman of mine furnishings.

Arthur died on 10 March 1964 in Seattle, Washington, USA.

Arthur’s brother John served in the War with the 1/1st Home Counties Field ambulance on the Western Front and survived the War.

The 1851 census shows Arthur’s grandfather, George, as publican at the Three Tuns pub and in Ashwell and farmer of 55 acres.  The 1890 Post Office Directory shows that Arthur’s father, John George, took over the running of the Three Tuns and in 1891 he was a job master (someone who rents out horses and carriages).

Royston Crow  9 January 1914  Success of Ashwell Man in Canada : Arthur Bonfield, son of Mr & Mrs John Bonfield, in commerce – promoted from International Falls to Fort Frances. Report from Canadian paper of farewell celebration.

No Comments

Start the ball rolling by posting a comment on this page!

Add a comment about this page

Your email address will not be published.

Search the roll of honour

You can carry out an advanced search of the roll of honour by search term, keywords and date.

Search the roll of honour