Arthur was born in Hornsey, North London on 1st October 1892 and joined Ilford County High School in September 1905. He had previously studied at Downshall School and lived at 41 Douglas Road. His father, Ernest was a Bank Cashier and his mother’s name was Helen. His older sister, Dorothy and younger brother, Wilfred, also attended the Ilford County High School.
At school, Arthur passed the Oxford Junior Local examination, 2nd Honours, Mathematics stages 1 and 2 (1st Honours) and the Oxford Senior examination, 3rd Honours.
In 1911, aged 18, Arthur was still living at home with his parents and three siblings. He was working as a stockbroker’s clerk.
Rifleman Heavingham (service number 650823) enlisted with the Territorial Army on 3rd September 1914, aged 21 years and 9 months and was soon training with the 21st battalion of the London Regiment. His army service record reveals that he was serving in Britain until 23rd June 1916. Subsequently, he spent five months in France and six months in Salonika before joining the Egyptian Expeditionary Force in June 1917. He was reported as wounded and missing in Syria during the attack on Amman on 30th March 1918 and his name was recorded on the Jerusalem memorial. He was 25 years old when he died.
Research by Andrew Emeny, History Teacher at ICHS
Sources:
Ancestry.com
ICHS school records and magazines
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Note
Ilford County High School started life as the Park Higher Grade School in 1901 in Balfour Road, Ilford. It was renamed Ilford County High School (or initially County High School, Ilford) in the years after the school’s management was transferred from Ilford School Board to Essex Education Committee in 1904.