Family :

Service Life:

Campaigns:

• The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.

The Battle of the Somme 1st July - 18th November 1916 is inevitably characterised by the appalling casualties (60,000) on the first day, July 1st 1916. Having failed to break through the German lines in force, and also failed to maximise opportunities where success was achieved, the battle became a series of attritional assaults on well defended defence in depth. The battle continued officially until 18th November 1916 costing almost 500,000 British casualties. German casualties were about the same, and French about 200,000. The Somme could not be counted a success in terms of ground gained or the cost, but it had a strategic impact as it marked the start of the decline of the German Army. Never again would it be as effective whilst the British Army, learning from its experience eventually grew stronger to become a war winning army. The German High Command recognised that it could never again fight another Somme, a view that advanced the decision to invoke unrestricted submarine warfare in an attempt to starve Britain of food and material, and in doing so accelerated the United States declaration of war thus guaranteeing the eventual outcome. 287 Brethren were killed on the Somme in 1916.

Detail :

Captain (TP) Arthur Owen TREFUSIS Loyal North Lancashire Regiment 9th Battalion. He was killed in action on the 7th July 1916 aged 32 and is buried in Pozieres British Cemetery Ovillers-la Boisselle France Grave Reference III.D.43

His death was reported across the newspapers in the South West, first seen in the Western Times "CAPT. A.O. TREFUSIS - Son of the Bishop of Crediton Killed at the Front. News has been received by the Right Rev. the Bishop of Crediton and Mrs. Trefusis that captain Arthur Owen Trefusis, their fourth son, has been killed in France. The deepest sympathy will go out to the Bishop and Mrs. Trefusis and to the wife of the deceased. It was as recently as January 19th last that Captain A.O. Trefusis was married at the Exeter Cathedral to Miss Alice Marjorie Spicer, second daughter of the Rev. Angel Spicer, Rector of East Anstey. Much local interest centred in the event, and the bridal pair, when they left for a brief honeymoon prior to the bridegroom returning to his regiment, the Royal North Lancashire, were the recipients of messages of good wishes from all parts of the county. Another son of the Bishop of Crediton was recently reported wounded."

The Taunton Courier, and Western Advertiser shows a little more context in its publication on the 19 July 1916. "The REV. F. M TREFUSIS, C.F., BEREAVED - Tauntonians will regret to learn of the death in action of Captain Arthur Owen Trefusis, of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, a brother of the Rev. F.M. Trefusis, formerly of St. Andrew's Church and King's College, and now a chaplain in the Forces. The fact that Captain Trefusis was only married in January adds greatly to the sadness of his death. Since he obtained his commission he had made rapid strides in the profession of arms, and received two additional stars since his marriage. His wife, whom he came straight from the trenches to marry in Exeter Cathedral, was Miss Alice Marjorie Spicer, second daughter of the Rev. Angel Spicer. Captian Trefusis was 32 years old. He was educated at Malvern, and was for about ten years in the mercantile marine. He then went to Ceylon, and was engaged in rubber planting. At the outbreak of war he came over with the Ceylon Planters' Contingent in which he held the rank of sergeant-major. He enlisted in the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment and given a commission in February, 1915. He was gazetted captain within a few days of his marriage."

Probate: TREFUSIS Arthur Owen of 28 Wonford-road Exeter temporary captain 9th (service) battalion North Lancashire regiment died 7 July 1916 in action in France Administration Exeter 9 March to Alice Marjorie Trefusis widow. Effects £177 6s. 5d. This was reworked revising the figure to £431 6s. 8d.

See also: Buckinghamshire Remembers.

Roll of Honour for Exeter's World War One Dead Cathedral Close TREFUSIS, Captain, Arthur Owen, The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. 7 July 1916. Age 32. Son of the Right Rev. Bishop of Crediton and Mrs. Trefusis, of The Gate House, 10, The Close ALSO BROTHER KILLED: TREFUSIS, Captain, Haworth Walter, Northamptonshire Regiment. 7 November 1916. Age 34. Son of the Right Rev. Robert Edward Trefusis, Bishop of Crediton, and of Mrs. Trefusis, of The Gate House

Masonic :

His mother lodge was St. John the Baptist Lodge No. 39 in Exeter and was a member when he was killed in action. He joined St. John's Lodge of Colombo No. 454 on August 20, 1910 and further joined Kurunegala Lodge as a Petitioner and Founder on 21st October 1912 (warrant date) and is recorded as its first Worshipful Master.
He was promoted in Ceylon to District Grand Steward.

Source :

The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:

• The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• The (UK) National Archives
• Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
• ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry

Additional Source:

• Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
• Researcher : Bruce Littley