Pte 49045 Arthur Foster Hampson

• Age: 27
• From: Tyldesley Lancs
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• D.O.W Friday 11th October 1918
• Commemorated at: Cologne South Cem Germany
  Panel Ref: VIII.E.9

Arthur Foster Hampson was born on the 09th February 1891 in Tyldesley, Lancashire, the son of John Hampson and his wife Sarah Ann (née Whalley) who were married on the 06th February 1870 at the Parish Church, at St Helens. John, was a 22 year old labourer of St Helens, his father, Joshua, was a weaver, whilst Sarah was aged 21 of St Helens,her father, James, was a weaver. They had ten children, one of whom died young. Arthur had older siblings Margaret, Catherine, Joshua, John, Thomas, Sarah Ann, and Ethel, and a younger brother Walter. Arthur was baptised in St. Stephen’s Church, Astley, on the 05th April 1891.

Arthur is two months old on the 1891 Census. His family, with eight children, is living at 71 Shuttle Street, Tyldesley with Shakerley. His father, is aged 44, and is an ironmonger, his mother, Sarah Ann, is aged 42. There are seven children declared in the household; his sister Margaret, is aged 19, and is a cotton weaver, Catherine, is aged 16, and is a domestic servant, Joshua, is aged 14, and is a cotton spinner’s scavenger, John, is aged 11, Thomas, is aged 9, and Sarah Ann, is aged 7, are at school, and Ethel is aged 4.  The Tyldesley area was built on coal mining and cotton mills. Many of their neighbours are employed in collieries or mills.

In 1901 they are at the same address, with six children in the home. His father, is aged 52, and is a self-employed ironmonger, working from home, his mother, Sarah, is aged 52. There are six children declared in the household; John, is aged 21,and is a grocer/ shopkeeper, Thomas, is aged 19, and is a painter’s apprentice, Sarah, is aged 17, is ‘at home’, Ethel, is aged 15, and is a calico weaver in a cotton mill, Arthur, is aged 10, and Walter, is aged 9. 

By the time of the 1911 Census, Arthur is living with his parents, his sister Ethel, and brother Walter, at 116 Commonside Street South, Tyldesley. His father, is aged 64, and is now retired (ironmonger/employer), his mother is aged 62. They advised that they have been married for 40 years, and have had 10 children, 9 of whom have survived.  Arthur, is aged 20, single, employed as a house joiner (‘Earl of Ellesmere estate’ written and crossed out), Ethel, is aged 24, and is a housemaid, and Walter, is aged 19, and is a shop assistant in an ironmongery business. 

His father, died in 1912, aged 66.

Probate:-

HAMPSON John of 116 Mosley-common, Boothstown, Tyldesley Lancashire ironmonger died 14 May 1912 Probate Manchester 23 December to John William Hampson grocer's manager and Thomas Hampson and Frank Gorton painters and decorators. Effects £1364 19s. 2d.

Prior to enlisting Arthur was employed at Anchor Cable Works, Leigh.

Arthur enlisted in Leigh and originally served as Private 32005, in the Lancashire Fusiliers. He was transferred and was serving in the 17^th Battalion, of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 49045 when he died of wounds on the 11^th October 1918, aged 27. 

He had been captured on the 29^th April 1918 at Voormezeele, he was interned at Termonde before being sent to Dulmen Prisoner of War camp. Arthur died at Frechen, near Cologne. According to his “Soldiers Bible”, on the 06th March 1915 he was in B Company. 

He now rests at Cologne South Cemetery, Germany, where his headstone bears the epitaph:

“PREPARE YE, FOR YE KNOW NOT WHEN THE SON OF GOD COMETH”

His was reported as Missing in the Weekly Casualty List (War Office & Air Ministry ) on Tuesday 05th November 1918;

Previously reported missing, now reported

PRISONERS OF WAR.

KING'S (LIVERPOOL REGIMENT). - Adams 53299 G. W. (Southampton); Cain 35091 G. (Liverpool), Casson 29180 F. H. (Birkenhead); Clarke 50442 R. (Pemberton-on-Wigan); Cowan 38057 J. (Manchester); Golding 86361 W. (St. Albans); Griffiths 300265 T. J (Liverpool); Hampson 49045 A. F. (Boothstown); Harrison 2181 J. (Liverpool); Kavanagh 12724 E. (Liverpool); Keith 51954 E. (Birkenhead); Knowles 96528 A. (Middleton); Langton 59467 A. S. (Liverpool); Lewis 57936 S., M.M. (Southwark, S.E.); Lomax 89040 S. (Pendleton); Lyon 26025 Cpl. T. (Holland Moor); McCarthy 306633 M. (Liverpool); May 54360 J. J. (Liverpool); Monaghan 49453 A. (Liverpool); Murphy 200066 G. J. (Liverpool); Newsham 50618 R. (Glasson Dock); Shickle 84939 J. B. (Sale); Wightman 56434 F. (Ardwick).

The Leigh Chronicle initially gives an incorrect date of his death.

Wigan Archives, newspaper dated 24th January 1919;

Prisoner's Death in Germany.

The British Red Cross Society have notified the relatives of Pte. A. F. Hampron (26), King's Liverpool Regiment, of Fair View, Mosley Common, that the last named died at Frechen in Germany, on Armistice Day. Deceased, who was taken prisoner on April 29th last, was formerly employed at the Anchor Cable Works, Leigh. The British Red Cross Society are making inquiries with view to obtaining information of Pte Hampson, but meanwhile his relatives would be pleased to hear from any returned prisoner who knows anything concerning him.

In 1922 it was decided to concentrate the graves of servicemen who had died in Germany into four cemeteries at Kassel, Berlin, Hamburg. and Cologne. Over the course of the following year graves were transferred to Cologne Southern Cemetery from over 180 different burial sites.

He earned his two medals.

His mother, living at 116 Fairview, Mosley Common, Boothstown, near Manchester, received his Soldiers Effects, Army Pay £31 11s 1d, War Gratuity of £13 and a Pension. 

On the 1921 Census at 116 Common Side South, his mother Sarah is aged 72 and is living with her son, Walter Douglas, aged 29, who is an ironmongers manager. 

His mother died, aged 79, in 1928. 

Arthur is commemorated on his parents’ gravestone in Tyldesley Cemetery: 

 “Also ARTHUR FOSTER, son of the above, who died and was buried at Frechen Germany, Oct. 1918, aged 27 years.”

Arthur is also commemorated on

Tyldesley with Shakerley Cross

Tyldesley Cenotaph

Anchor Cable Works, Greater Manchester 

We currently have no further information on Arthur Foster Hampson. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.