Arthur John Skoulding

A Private with 1st Bn. Arthur died on 4th of May 1917 at the age of 24. 

Arthur was born at Oulton Broad on 20 December 1892, a son of Robert and Martha Skoulding. He was baptised at Saint Peter's Church, Carlton Colville, on 14 May 1893. In 1901 his family lived at The Gate House, Carlton Colville. By 1911 Arthur's father had died and his family were living at Coldstream Villas, Dell Road, Oulton Broad. 

On 25 December 1915 Arthur married Mary Rivett at Saint Peter's Church, Carlton Colville. They both lived at Carlton Colville and Arthur worked as a horseman. Their home was at 7 School Road, Oulton Broad.

Arthur joined the Army at Lowestoft. Initially he served with the Royal Fusiliers, service number 11411. He was then transferred to The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment) and posted to the 1st Battalion in France. 

On 22 April 1917 the 1st Battalion were between Fontaine and Croissille Railway Cutting, in the Arras area. One 23 April they made an attack. Arthur served with D Company and was in the first wave of the attack and were to pass through the German front line and take, and hold, the second line. The first wave of the Battalion actually moved past the second German line and was held up by enemy wire while the German's were able to man the parapets of their defences and the Battalion's first wave had to take cover in shell holes while the Germans made a counter-attack which led the the Battalion retiring. The Battalion lost 29 killed, 103 wounded, and 316 missing.

Arthur was wounded in both legs and taken prisoner. He was at the Langensalza Hospital when he died form his wounds. Initially he was buried at Langensalza Prisoner of War Cemetery, but, in 1924, was reburied at Niederzwehren.