Arthur Barton

Rank 
Private
Regiment 
Essex Regiment
Date of death 
30 November 1917
Age of death 
38
Address 
3 Rose Cottages
Avenue Road
Woodford Green
Woodford
Essex
IG8 7NU
Address source 
1911 Census
Local memorial 
Cemetery / Memorial 
France
Biography 

Born in about 1879 at Capel St Mary in Suffolk, son of William (Shoemaker) and Susannah Barton. 1891: With his family at 10 Turnpike Road, Capel St Mary. During 1901 he married Ellen Mary Elmer in the Epping District.  In 1911 their home was at 3 Rose Cottages, Avenue Road, Woodford Green, and they had three children. Arthur worked as a General Labourer. They had also lived at 3 Railway Place and 18 Prospect Road in Woodford.

Arthur enlisted at Woodford, and was involved in the Battle of Cambrai. At 06.30 on 20th November 1917 over 1000 artillery pieces were firing and 378 tanks moved forward. The successful attack had taken the Germans by surprise. 1 Essex captured the canal bridges at Marcoing and Manieres, and established bridgeheads on the other side of the canal. On 22th November the Battalion was in reserve at Marcoing, and on 24th November German shelling had increased to the extent men were ordered into dugouts.

On 25th November 1 Essex moved into the line north west of Marcoing. Shelling continued, including the use of gas, but at 09.00 on 30th November it became quiet. The Germans then attacked and broke through on the right of the line, so 88 Brigade, including 1 Essex were ordered to the south of Marcoing Copse where they encountered and engaged two German Divisions.  A rearguard action helped to delay the Germans, but by 17.00 on 30th November they had regained all the ground they had lost on 20th November.

During this fighting Arthur Barton was Killed in Action. 

Research by Adrian Lee, Local Historian

Sources:

Ancestry.com