Arthur Henry Nobes

A Private with the 1/1st Battalion, Arthur died on 8th of August 1918 at the age of 21. 

Arthur was born at Letheringsett, Norfolk, on 26 May 1897, a son of Benjamin Lewis and Ann Emma Nobes. He was baptised at Saint Andrew’s Church, Letheringsett, on 20 June 1897. By 1901 his family were living at Ebenezer Terrace, Norwich Road, Wymondham. His family moved to Somerleyton and lived at Church Farm. Arthur attended Somerleyton School, and, on 12 October 1904, he became a pupil at Saint Margaret’s School, Lowestoft. In 1911 his family lived at Whitton Farm Cottage, Carlton Colville. Later his family lived at 9, The Green, Woodbastwick, and his father subsequently returned to the Lowestoft area and lived at 2 Ship Cottages, Carlton Colville.  

Arthur joined the Great Eastern Railway in May 1912, and he worked as a goods clerk at Lowestoft Central Station. 

Arthur enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft on 26 May 1915. He joined the Suffolk Regiment, service number 20327. He was posted to the 8th Battalion and arrived in France on 22 December 1915. Arthur was wounded and his name appears in the official casualty list, the War Office Daily List, dated 27 August 1916. Once recovered he was posted to the 9th Battalion, and he served with C Company. Arthur was suspected of having diptheria and he joined 31 Ambulance Train on 30 August 1917 and arrived at Etaples later that day for treatment. Subsequently he was posted to the 7th Battalion in April 1918. On 9 May 1918, 11 officers and 408 men of the 7th Battalion transferred to the 1/1st Battalion Cambridgeshire Regiment. Arthur was wounded again, and his name appears in the War Office Daily List dated 12 August 1918. The Great Eastern Railway magazine, May 1919, states that he had been wounded at ‘Windy Corner’, Givenchy, (possibly in 1916?) and was later gassed. Arthur was a Lewis Gunner and was the No 1 in his section when he was killed. 

At 4.20 a.m. on 8 August a barrage began and at 6.20 a.m. A and B Companies began an assault on a trench to the west of Morlancourt. Initially it was reported that the objectives had been taken, but soon afterwards both companies were back in the old front line having sustained heavy casualties. At 10.15 a.m. C and D Companies were ordered to assemble in order to make afresh attack. A supportive barrage was laid down at 12.15 p.m. and C and D Companies left their assembly positions. At 12.28 the attacking waves charged the position and at 12.35 the second wave advanced to the second objective. From the two objectives 316 prisoners were captured along with 14 machine-guns and 10 trench mortars. By 12.50 the battalion were able to begin consolidation work.

The battalion’s casualties were:
Officers: two killed, three wounded
Other ranks: 16 killed, 167 wounded

Arthur was killed in action on 8 August.