Arthur George Kent

A Lance Corporal with the 9th Battalion, Arthur died on 27th of May 1918 aged 21. 

Arthur was born at Kessingland in August 1896, a son of George and Elizabeth Ann Kent. He was baptised at Saint Edmund’s Church, Kessingland, on 6 November 1898. In 1901 his family lived at High Street, Kessingland, and in 1911 they lived at Green Lane, Kessingland, and Arthur was a fisherman.

Arthur volunteered and enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. He joined the Suffolk Regiment, service number12693, and was posted to the 9th Battalion arriving in France, with the battalion, on 31 august 1915. The 9th Battalion was disbanded in France in February 1918, and this may have been when Arthur was transferred to the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, service number 30371, and posted to the 9th Battalion. 

The 9th Battalion moved to Muscourt camp early on 27 May 1918. At 9 a.m. one platoon from each company went to the canal bank north-east of Maizy to form a defence. Later the rest of the battalion reinforced that line. Twelve officers and 496 men went into action that day and Arthur was among those killed. During May 1918 officer casualties in his battalion numbered 10, and among the men 345, with the majority becoming casualties on 27 May.