Bryant, Arthur

Arthur was born on 12 October 1880 at Ashwell, Hertfordshire, the eldest of four sons of Benjamin and Esther (nee Huffer) Bryant, He was a pupil at the Merchant Taylor School in Ashwell.

Arthur enlisted with the 1/5^th Battalion (Territorial Force), Bedfordshire Regiment in September 1915, Regimental Number 5712. In 1917 his battalion fought in the Battles of Gaza and the Battle of Jaffa. During the War Arthur’s Regimental Number changed to 201111. The 1/5^th Battalion engaged in various battles in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign, ending the war in Beirut. Arthur survived the War.

He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

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

Arthur married Neina Maria Clements in the 1^st quarter of 1906 in Ashwell. They had two children, Frederick born in 1907 and Percy born in 1909.

The 1911 census shows Arthur as a coal costermonger.

The 1939 census shows them living in Royston, with Arthur a coal merchant.

Arthur died at Royston in 1968.

Arthur’s brothers Percy, Rupert, and Sidney all survived the war and returned to Ashwell. Rupert, the second son received a shrapnel wound to his arm and was awarded a wound stripe. George, the third son, died in the Battle of the Somme on 13 November 1916. It is not known if Stanley survived the War.