Arthur Woolnough

A Sergeant with the 8th Battalion, Arthur died on 12th of October 1917 at the age of 26. 

Arthur was born at Worlingham, Suffolk, in 1892. It is not possible, at this time, to state who is parents were. In 1901 he lived at Beccles Road, Mutford, with his grandmother Matilda Woolnough, and in 1911 they lived at Hulver Road, Mutford, and Arthur was a fisherman.

Arthur volunteered and enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. He joined the Suffolk Regiment, service number 14136. He was posted to the 8th Battalion and arrived in France, with the battalion, on France 25 July 1915. By February 1916 Arthur had been promoted to Lance Corporal.  

Arthur served with C Company. The battalion war diary shows that Arthur was particularly commended for his conduct during the battalion's attack on enemy positions on the Menin Road, including Glencorse Wood and Inverness Copse, on 31 July 1917. At a parade on 9 September 1917 Arthur was awarded a parchment certificate for gallantry by Brigadier General Higginson. Later Arthur was awarded the Military Medal (London Gazette 30 October 1917).

On 12 October 1917 the 8th Battalion were involved in an attack near Poelcappelle, Belgium, Between Rose Trench and the Langemarck to Peolcappelle Road the battalion faced a heavy enemy barrage and soon afterwards were subjected to heavy machine-gun fire. The men had to take cover in shell-holes. The valley was found to be impassable, and the attack was abandoned. 

Details from pension awards state that Arthur died of exposure on 12 October 1917. Forty-six men of the battalion died on 12 October.