No.37609, Lance Corporal, Alfred Frank ARBER
Aged 34
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Alfred Frank ARBER was born at 2 Station Road, Haverill on 18th April 1884 ( Risbridge Q2-1884 4A:585), baptised in St Mary's Haverhill
on 1st June 1884, confirmed in 1898, son of James Crick and Anne Allen ARBER (née CAVE).
The Arber family were well known in Haverhill in the late 1800's. John Arber was a bricklayer/plasterer living in Queen Street and around 1875 his son James joined the firm which he gradually expanded and by 1892 was a contractor, brickmaker and builder. In 1878 James married Ann Allen CAVE who had arrived from Yeovil to take the position of headmistress of the Girls Board School in around 1877. She remained employed there until she retired. James and Ann had seven children between 1880 and 1893, Alfred Frank, their third, was more usually known as Frank. 1891 census...Aged 7 he was at 3 Station Road, Haverhill with his father James Crick ARBER [43] a builder/brickmaker; his mother Ann Allen [40] school mistress born West Coker, Somerset; brothers James Cave [9] and William Cave [9 months] ; sister Nellie Victoria [3]. All except his mother were born in Haverhill 1901 census... Aged 16, a carpenter's apprentice, he was at 3 The Pightle, Haverhill with his widowed mother; brothers James C (carpenter), William C and Frederick C [8] born Haverhill; sister Nellie V (probationary teacher). His father had won the contract to hang the School's new bell on 19th January 1897, but sadly died the following October. 1911 census...Aged 26, a carpenter, he was at Schoolhouse, Withersfield Road, Haverhill with his mother (headmistress); brothers James (carpenter), William (blacksmith) and Frederick (journalistic clerk); sister Nellie (assistant mistress). He was a keen footballer and a member of the Rovers team that won the 1912-13 South Suffolk League. He was also the local School Attendance Officer. Both James and Frank enlisted in the Suffolk Regiment, James in September 1914 and Frank in November. As legatees he had named his mother and siblings, but James assigned his share to his mother. By the time of the pension card his mother had returned to 3 The Pightle, Haverhill. |
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He enlisted in Bury St. Edmunds. He was in Egypt from January 1917 to May 1918 with the 15th Battalion (Suffolk Yeomanry) and saw his brother there. His battalion arrived at Marseilles on 7th May 1918 and after training went to Maricourt on the Somme. The war diary has for 5th September 1918:- "10:30 am - 15 Suffolks sideslipped to the right and passed through 23rd Brigade and pushed on together with the Buffs arrived in MIDINETTE Trench 11:40 am pushing on to Peronne-Nurlu Road in D20 ( very close to where Alfred was initially buried). 12:30 Buffs report enemy concentrating in D2c - Artillery turned on. 5:45 - Advanced ? centre opened at J.1.a.4.8. Btn HQ to huts in I.b centre 6:25- Suffolks in line J.9.a.7.3. to D.25.b.7.3. CWGC figures have 10 of 15th Suffolks killed on 5th September, the four with graves are all in Peronne Communal Cemetery. He was originally found, identified by cross on grave, as shown below, then re-interred in Peronne. The South West Suffolk Echo of 28th September 1918 reported that:- "Mrs. Arber, of 3, The Pightle, Haverhill, has received official news that her son, Lance-Corporal Alfred Frank Arber, of the Suffolk Regiment, was killed in action in France on September 5th. Lance-Corpl. Arber - Frank, as he was familiarly known - was 34 years of age. At the time of enlistment he was acting as local Attendance Officer for the West Suffolk Education Committee. From January, 1917, until May this year he was in Egypt, where he saw his brother, Pte. J. Arber. Pte. Ager of Camps, who is at present on leave, was one of the party who buried Lance Corpl. Arber and other soldiers who had fallen. " From the South West Suffolk Echo of 19th October 1918 :- "Mr Fred Arber, of Tottenham, received from his brother officer the following letter, which will undoubtedly be read with interest by Lance-Corp. Arber's many friends:-"I have just arrived back with the Regiment, and found your letter about your brother. Shortly after your brother was killed his Platoon Commander wrote to your mother saying what he knew.But in addition I should like you all to know how much your brother had made himself respected by all ranks in my Company (Suffolk Yeomanry) with which he had served since he joined us in Egypt eighteen months ago. In the advance during which he was killed he had just done a most excellent patrol, for leading which he would most certainly have been recommended for some distinction for his bravery, but as you know, except in the case of a V.C., these recommendations cannot be forwarded posthumously. But during the whole advance, he was acting in a way that brought credit on his Company and Battalion, as well as on himself. Assuring both your mother and yourself of my deepest sympathy in your great loss, which we too feel heavily."
photo: Rodney Gibson click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
