Early Life :

Service Life:

Campaigns:

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

31 July - 10 November 1917. By the summer of 1917 the British Army was able for the first time to fight on its chosen ground on its terms. Having secured the southern ridges of Ypres at Messines in June, the main attack started on 31st July 1917 accompanied by what seemed like incessant heavy rain, which coupled with the artillery barrages conspired to turn much of the battlefield into a bog. Initial failure prompted changes in the high command and a strategy evolved to take the ring of ridges running across the Ypres salient in a series of 'bite and hold' operations, finally culminating in the capture of the most easterly ridge on which sat the infamous village of Passchendaele. The Official History carries the footnote ?The clerk power to investigate the exact losses was not available? but estimates of British casualties range from the official figure of 244,000 to almost 400,000. Within five months the Germans pushed the British back to the starting line, which was where they had been since May 1915.

Detail :

He was one of the first to enlist for war service, signing on at St. George’s Hall, Liverpool to the 1st City Battalion, which was being raised by Lord Derby. Arthur was described as 29 years and 30 days old, employed in the city as a clerk. The description recorded on attestation is very concise, showing Arthur was of the Church of England, fair hair and complexion with blue eyes. He stood at five feet eight and a half inches, weighing one hundred and thirty four pounds, with a thirty five and a half chest, and two vaccination marks on his left arm. The record shows that Arthur had previous service with the 2nd Liverpool, but gives no date.

The army would also record members of his family, showing he had an elder brother, Thomas, living in Crofton Road, Tranmere, two sisters, Elsie and Elizabeth, living with their parents at Carrington Street, and two half sisters. These are Amy Smith of Alma Street, Liverpool, and Gertrude Corfe of 76 Village Road, Higher Bebington.

Arthur left with the now renamed 17 Battalion, Liverpool Regiment for service in France, as Private 15393, arriving on 6th November 1915. On 1 July 1916 Arthur is in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, and is admitted to 45 Casualty Clearing Station with a gunshot wound to the left thigh. He was then later moved to 1st Australian General Hospital at Rouen with a shrapnel wound to the shoulder, which was probably received while still being treated at the Casualty Clearing Station, while under German artillery fire. When Arthur recovered to a degree enabling him to be moved, he was sent for a period of convalescence at Etaples.

On 17 July 1916 Arthur was attached to the 12th (Service) Battalion, The Manchester Regiment, joining the following day. This turned out to be permanent as he was transferred officially on 18 September and re-numbered as Private 44253.

It was while serving with the 12 Bn. Manchester Regiment, believed to be with “A” Company, that he sustained the wounds to which the following day, Monday, 17 September 1917, he eventually succumbed, aged 32 years. The field ambulance report says he died from a gunshot wound to the abdomen, which shows he was facing the enemy when he was hit.

His effects were later sent home to his mother, and consisted of his identity disc, cap badge, numerals, a pipe, two mirrors and some letters. It would not be until 3 June 1922 that his mother received his British War Medal and Victory medal, both engraved to Pte. A.G.Corlett 44253 Manchester Regiment, with his 1915 Star arriving on 12 March 1923, this engraved Pte. A.G.Corlett 15393 LiverpoolRegiment.

Corlett, Arthur George of 27 Carrington Street, Liverpool. Private 12th Bn. Manchester Regiment died 17th September 1917 in France. Administration (with Will) Liverpool 29th April 1918 to Mary Corlett (wife of William Corlett). Effects £122.19s.1d.

Arthur is buried in Plot, I. A. 26. Sunken Road Cemetery, Fampoux, Pas de Calais, France.

In addition to masonic memorial, he is commemorated on; Bronze Roll of Honour, within Parish Church of St. Bride with St. Saviour, Percy Street, Liverpool L8; Liverpool Collegiate School Memorial and Mersey Docks and Harbour Board Memorial.

Masonic :

Arthur George Corlett was proposed, aged 27 years, as a candidate for Neptune Lodge No 1264, on 2 December 1912 by Thomas Catterall, seconded by John Rogers Bibby. He was initiated on 6 January 1913, described as a Clerk, residing at 27 Carrington Street. Arthur was passed to the Second Degree on 3 February 1913, and raised to the degree of Master Mason on 3 March, his Grand Lodge Certificate being issued on 2 May 1913.

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
• Researcher : Geoff Cuthill