Arthur William Stevens Mason

A Private with the 2nd Battalion, Arthur died on 2nd of September 1918 aged 36. 

Arthur was born at Lowestoft on 14 September 1884, a son of Arthur and Charlotte Britteon Mason. He was baptised at Saint Margaret’s Church on 4 January 1885. In 1891 his family lived at 16 Laundry Lane. In 1901 they lived at 71 Norwich Road and Arthur may have been a trawl fisherman. Later his mother lived at 58 May Road. 

On 30 October 1910 Arthur married Alice Maude Landles at Walworth, Surrey. Alice came from Lowestoft. In 1911 they lodged at 25 Beaconsfield Street, Chester, and Arthur was a photographer’s assistant. Later Alice lived at 58 Gladstone Road, Chester. 

Arthur attested for the Army on 9 December 1915, and he joined the Army Reserve. He was called up on 7 June 1916 and joined the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, service number 42719. Arthur was transferred to the Lancashire Fusiliers, and was posted to the 5th Battalion, service number 235450. About August 1917 he was posted to the 19th Battalion in France. Artur was wounded and his name appears in the official casualty list, the War Office Daily List, dated 8 November 1917. On 17 December 1917 Arthur was admitted to 2 General Hospital to be treated for an old chest injury and the same day he was evacuated to England by the Hospital Ship Essequito. Once recovered he was posted to the 2/8th Battalion in France and this battalion was reduced to a cadre in April 1918 and it is likely that this is when Arthur was posted to the 2nd Battalion.  

On 2 September 1918 the 2nd Battalion were in the Remy Sector. At 5 a.m. they began an attack with the Drocourt-Queant line as their objective: this was taken by noon. Arthur was killed in action. 

Arthur’s brother Stanley served with the Liverpool Regiment and died in 1917.