No.15919, Private, Arthur CHOAT
Aged 25
Arthur Choate was born in Sturmer [Risbridge Q2-1890 4a:640], son of Walter and Annie CHOATE (née SPARKES). 1891 census...Aged 1, he was at Kedington End, Sturmer with his father Walter CHOATE [36] farm labourer born Sturmer and his mother Annie [27] born Stoke. Annie's other children, Lily SPARKES, born Sturmer Q1-1887 4A:631 was with her brother John SPARKES [9] born Wixoe and staying with their grandparents John and Rebecca FORD at Kedington End, Water Road, Sturmer in 1891 1901 census...Aged 11, he was at Brickwall Road, Hundon with his parents; sister Ada [8] born Sturmer; brothers Joseph [6] and Walter [1], both born in Hundon. half brother John and half sister Lily were still with their grandparents ia Kedington End 1911 census...Aged 21, farm labourer, he was at Haverhill Road, Sturmer with his parents (father now a shepherd; half sisters Lily [24] born Sturmer; sisters Ada and Ella [9] born Hundon; brother Walter. 3 of the 7 siblings had died. Half brother John was still staying with his grandparents at Kedington End Brother Walter was S/7002, Middlesex Regiment when he was discharged on 15th June 1915 for "having made a mis-statement as to his age on enlistment". Apparently when he enlisted on 10th August 1914 he added at least 4 years to his age. His disciplinary record was not of the best and after nearly a year the Army discovered his real age. The family address a the time was Rowley Hill, Haverhill. Brother Joseph had joined the Royal Navy. |
Arthur enlisted in Haverhill.
The 7th Suffolks spent the end of October until the end of the year in routine spells in the trenches around Hulluch and Givenchy. With Arthur dying of his wounds in No1 Casualty Clearing Station at Chocques, and no service record found, it is impossible to say exactly when or where he was wounded. |
photo: Rodney Gibson photo:Rodney Gibson
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details