No.13215, Private, Arthur WELLS
Aged 24
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Arthur Wells was born in Cavendish (Sudbury Q1-1892 4A:738), son of Charles and Elizabeth WELLS (née SLATER). 1901 census...Aged 9, he was at High Street, Cavendish with his father Charles WELLS [34] farm labourer; his mother Lizzie [30] born Glemsford; brothers Charles [10] born Glemsford, Richard [6] and George [1]; sisters Florence [7] and Edith [3]. All except his mother and brother George were born in Cavendish. 1911 census... Aged 19, farm labourer, he was "near the Church", Cavendish with his parents; brothers Charles (farm labourer), Richard (butcher's boy), George, John [9], Frederick [4] and Edward [1]; sisters Florecne and Sarah [7]. Thenew siblings born in Cavendish, all nine children survive. |
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From their regimental numbers George Argent-John Ballard-John Brown-Jack Johnson-Charles Slater-Frank Underwood and Arthur Wells, all from
Cavendish, enlisted in the Suffolk Regiment the same day He enlisted in Sudbury. Lt Col Murphy's "History of the Suffolk Regiment tells us :- On the 13th September 1916 the 9th Suffolks attacked the Quadrilateral, near Ginchy. Attacking with three companies in the front line and one in support, zero hour was 6.20 am. They got through the German outpost line quite easily but in the open ground beyond, for 400 yards from the German wire, they came under very heavy machine gun fire from the Quarilateral strong point. No further progress could be made, although Lt Macdonald got close enough to throw a bomb into the stronghold, being injured as a result. Another attempt was made at 7:30 am, with "A" Coy included, but to no avail. A third attempt was made in the evening which also failed, so they dug in on a line about half a mile from the morning's jumping off point. 47 men were killed, 28 have no known grave. Arthur is recorded as dying on or since 13th September and "Soldiers Died" say he died of wounds, so that date was the last time he was identified but must have been seen to have been wounded. He was initially found and buried (identified by a cross)as per the image below, but was removed to Guillemont Road after the war.
photo: Rodney Gibson click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
