Woolley. Arthur

The son of Joseph H. and Sarah A. Woolley of Brick Yard, Church Street, Elsecar, he was born in Elsecar. He was called up on the 21st May 1918, he enlisted at Barnsley on Friday 24th May 1918 and joined his unit on the 7th June 1918. Initially he was assigned to the 3rd Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) but was later transferred to the 10th Battalion. He underwent basic training at Pontefract and Whitley Bay before leaving for France on the 19th September 1918. On the 26th September he joined the 10th Battalion at Le Mesnil en Arrouaise as part of C Company.

During sustained attempts to take Neuvilly, between 10th-13th October 1918, Arthur was severely wounded in the abdomen. His parents Joseph and Sarah received a letter from the matron at a Casualty Clearing Station in France advising them of his condition. On the 1st November he was transferred to Coulte Hospital, Grosvenor Square, London. On the 17th November he was moved to the Northern General Hospital, Sheffield, where, in the presence of his Aunt Mary (Mary Jane Littlewood, nee Woolley), he died of his wounds at 1:15 pm on Saturday 30th November, 1918.

Arthur's spirit prevailed throughout his ordeal as he showed himself to be a loving and devoted son and brother.

Extracts from research conducted by his Grand nephew Eddie Thomas.