Pte 49203 Arthur Hargreaves

• Age: 20
• From: Burnley, Lancs
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• D.O.W Friday 17th August 1917
• Commemorated at: Etaples Mil Cem
  Panel Ref: XXII.P.10

Arthur Hargreaves was born in 1897 at Burnley and was the son of William and Mary Hargreaves (nee Foulds). His parents had married in 1885. His mother Mary died in March 1907 aged 44 and his father William remarried in 1911. His father married Winifred Maud Reddall at Immanuel Baptist Chapel (Bright St), Preston. 

The 1901 Census finds the family living at 123 Waterbarn Street, Burnley. Arthur is 3 years of age and is living with his parents and two siblings. His father is aged 40, born 1861 in Brierfield, Lancashire and employed as a cotton weaver, whilst his mother is also a cotton weaver born in 1862 in Burnley. His siblings, both born in Burnley are recorded as;Ethel born in 1890 and Harry born in 1893. 

The 1911 Census shows the family have moved and are living at 40 Melville Street, Burnley. His father is a widower aged 50 and is still employed as a cotton weaver. He is living with his four children, Ethel now aged 21, occupation housekeeper, Harry aged 18, a cotton weaver, Arthur aged 13, a cotton reacher and Dennis aged 6, born 1905.

He enlisted in Burnley and was formerly serving as 27371, East Lancashire Regiment but following transfer he was serving in the 20th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 49203 when he died of wounds on the 17th August, 1917 aged 20 during the Third Battle of Ypres.

He now rests at Etaples Military Cemetery, France.

During the First World War, the area around Etaples was the scene of immense concentrations of Commonwealth reinforcement camps and hospitals. It was remote from attack, except from aircraft, and accessible by railway from both the northern or the southern battlefields. In 1917, 100,000 troops were camped among the sand dunes and the hospitals, which included eleven general, one stationary, four Red Cross hospitals and a convalescent depot, could deal with 22,000 wounded or sick. In September 1919, ten months after the Armistice, three hospitals and the Q.M.A.A.C. convalescent depot remained.

The cemetery contains 10,771 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, the earliest dating from May 1915. 35 of these burials are unidentified. It is the largest CWGC cemetery in France, and was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

Details of a Memorial service in honour of Arthur and two other members of the congreataion who also fell was reported as follows;

IMMANUEL BAPTIST CHURCH

Last Sunday morning there was a memorial service for George Astin, Robert Thistlethwaite and Arthur Hargreaves, all of whom had fallen in battle. The pastor, Rev. H. P. Hannah, gave a message of comfort and the whole service was very impressive. There was a large congregation including a considerable number of mourners.  

Soldiers Effects to his father William and pension to his mother Winifred Maude Hargreaves.

Burnley Express 22nd March 1919

BURNLEY'S FALLEN FIGHTERS

HARGREAVES A., 49203 20th K. Liverpool's, wounds, Aug; 17, 1917, 40 Melville Street.

Arthur is also commemorated on the memorial at Pickup Croft Sunday School, Burnley.

His stepmother died in March 1976.

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