No.22044, Driver, Arthur Edward HARDING
Aged 26
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Arthur Harding was born in Kennett (Newmarket Q1-1890 3B:529), baptised in St Nicholas, Kennett on 9th March 1890, son of Charles and
Sarah Ann HARDING (née BARKHAM).
1891 census... Aged 1, he was at Kentford Road, Kennett with his widowed mother Sarah Ann HARDING [37] born in Mildenhall; brothers Norman H. [11], George S [9] Sidney W.[7], Charles W. [3] and sister Rebecca [ 1 month]. All the children were born in Kennett. His father Charles had died in Q3-1890, he had been an agricultural labourer and the family were previously at School Cottages, Kennett 1901 census... Aged 11 he was in Kennett with his widowed mother, brother Sidney William (labourer), brother Charles Walter (labourer) and sister Rebecca . 1911 census... Aged 21, a labourer, he was living at Hall Cottages, Worlington Road, Kennett with his widowed mother and brother Norman Henry (labourer- normally a plate layer) |
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He enlisted in Consett, Durham. One has to wonder at how that came about? Being in the Artillery it is difficult to ascertain his whereabouts when wounded. Trench Mortar men were not the most popular men with front line trenches. As with the Royal Engineer Gas companies, once they had done their work they then retired left the other troops to endure the retaliatory action of the enemy. The 20th Battery was attached to the 20th Brigade, 7th Division. In September 1916, the 34th and 2/2nd London Casualty Clearing Stations were established at this point, known to the troops as Grove Town, to deal with casualties from the Somme battlefields. |
photo: Rodney Gibson
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