Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Memorial: | Thiepval Memorial, Picardie | Pier and Face 14A and 15C | |
| 2. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.137 | |
| 3. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 30C GQS | |
Awards & Titles: | |||
Early Life :
Arthur was born fourth son of Robert and Anne Vickers on the 18th July 1888 and brought up at Habmer Nab and Newton Grange Farms, Sadberge, near Darlington.Arthur attended Bede College, 1907. Whilst there, he was a member of the Rowing Club and crewed against York in the June 1909 Regatta Finals. He also spent two years as a volunteer in the College’s A company in 8th Durham Light Infantry. Upon completion of his training and qualification in July 1909, he was employed as an Assistant Teacher at Trimdon Grange School.
Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: 18/Durham Light Infantry |
18th (Service) Battalion (1st County) This and other battalions (below) often known by the name of the Durham Pals. Formed at Cocken Hall in County of Durham on 10 September 1914 by Col. R.Burdon and a committee. Moved in December to Fencehouses, thenback to Cocken Hall in February 1915 and to Fencehouses again in March. May 1915 : moved to Cramlington then Ripon, attached to 93rd Brigade in 31st Division. Went to Fovant in September. 6 December 1915 : sailed from Liverpool for Egypt, arriving Port Said on 21 December. Went on to France, arriving 11 March 1916. |
| Action : The Battles of the Somme 1916 |
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 :
He enlisted almost immediately upon the outset of war on 19th September 1914 at Spennymoor, aged 26, attesting for service in a new arm "Pals" battalion, the 18th Durham Light Infantry. He was promoted to lance corporal. The battalion embarked for Egypt on active service on 6th December 1915, before re-embarking and entering France on 11 March 1916, arriving in time to fight in the Battle of the Somme.
The war diaries show the 18th Battalion was in action on the first day attacking German forces in Serre, suffering heavy losses. They remained in "shattered trenches under heavy bombardment" until relieved during the night of 4 July. Losses were 14 Officers and 357 men (over half of the battalion’s strength killed and wounded). He was reported wounded that day by an officer in his company, and later posted missing. The Bede magazine published a report of a fellow Bede student who saw him having his wound dressed in the trenches, but ultimately the location of his grave was lost. The date of his death is recorded as the first day of The Battle of the Somme.
In addition to Thiepval, he is further commemorated at St Andrew’s Sadberge, St Alban’s Trimdon Grange and at Bede College.
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Stranton No. 1862 E.C. | Durham |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
18th August 1911 | 1st November 1911 | 14th January 1912 |
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