HUMBERSTONE, Arthur [of Southwell]

Humberstone, Arthur

By Mike Kirton

Born 1891 – Killed in Action 23rd June 1917

British Army

Arthur Humberstone, a curtain threader with E. carey & Sons, Southwell, was the son of William Humberstone, also a lace maker, and Annie Selina Humberstone.  He had three brothers: Albert (b. 1887), Samuel (b. 1889, killed in action 1915) and William (b. 1894).  He lived in Eaasthorpe, Southwell and had been educated at Easthorpe School and latterly at the National, Southwell.  Arthur enlisted with ‘H’ Company, 8th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters, the local territorial force, and went with them to France in late February 1915 as a corporal (Service Nos. 1432 and 305126). Arthur served alongside his brother Samuel and had survived the onslaught in June and July 1915, but it was reported in August 1915 that he had been wounded in the continuing fighting in the ‘Salient’. Little more was recorded about Arthur until in early July 1917 when the Newark Advertiser reported that he had died of wounds on 23rd June 1917.  The family received a letter from the Chaplain:

Dear Mrs Humberstone, It is with deep regret that your son was brought into this hospital so badly wounded that he soon passed away, in spite of attempts to save his life. He was unconscious when he died, and it will comfort you to know that he suffered no pain. I saw him when he first came in, and he asked me to send you his love. Please accept my sincere sympathy in your great trouble. I shall bury him tomorrow at — , and will remember you in my prayers at the grave.

Arthur’s brother William was close by at the time and had been allowed to visit him in hospital just prior to his death. He had a very difficult letter to write home:

I hardly know how to write this letter to tell you the news that poor Arthur has got severely wounded this morning with a trench mortar. I saw him when he was on the stretcher, but he hardly knew me. His wounds are in the neck and right side, and the doctor says they are very serious.” In a later communication he states:? “I expect you have my letter telling you about Arthur being wounded. I am awfully sorry to tell you he died on Saturday, the 23rd, at 9 o’clock. I have got permission to leave the trenches to attend his funeral, and three chums are to go with me.

Arthur is buried at Noex-les-Mines.  He was awarded the Victory, British and 1914-15 Star medals.

Extracted from Southwell at war 1914-1919  [SEE Books for Sale section for details of this book].