Description
1914 Star and Bar trio – 1st battalion Hampshire Regiment & 3/6th battalion Essex Regiment.
1914 Star (5th Aug-22nd Nov 1914, bar) 7469Pte A. Arnold, 1/Hamps.R.; British War and Victory medals, 7469 Pte A. Arnold, Hamps.R. (Swing mound as worn) with match set of miniatures also mounted as worn.
Alfred Arnold landed in France on the 23rd August 1914, his bar being confirmed on his MIC card.
The MIC and medal rolls also confirm that he served initially in the 1st battalion Hampshire regiment, transferring to th 3/6th battalion Essex regiment.
We have been sent the following information on Arnold by a collector – Thank you.
Pte Alfred Arnold – 1886-1942?
Alfred joined the Hampshire Regiment militia as a boy in 1900 and the regular army in 1905. A reservist when the war began Alfred arrived in France with the 1st Battalion on 23/08/1914. During the war he became a Sergeant and also served in the Essex Regiment.
Alfred was born at Winchester on 16/03/1886: a son of Alfred and Annie Arnold. In 1891 his family lived at 110 Middle Brook, Winchester. By 1901 they had moved to 66 Colebrook Street, Winchester.
Alfred enlisted in the 3rd Militia Battalion Hampshire Regiment, at Winchester on 26/01/1900, age 13 years 10 months, with consent of his parents. He was a butcher’s boy, 4’ 6’’ tall, with fresh complexion, hazel eyes, brown hair, and belonged to the Church of England. Albert joined the regular army on 20/06/1905 and in 1911 he was serving in South Africa with the 2nd Battalion.
It appears that Alfred was transferred to the reserve around 1912 and by June 1914 was a Rural Postman, based at Shawford, Winchester. Alfred married Elsie Ellen Instrell in the autumn of 1914. Elsie’s sister, Gertrude, married Alfred’s brother John.
Alfred was mobilized when the war began. He arrived in France with the 1st Battalion on 23/08/1914. The Hampshire Regimental Journal of May 1915 shows him as a Lance Corporal being treated at 10th General Hospital, Rouen, 4/04/1915 ‘sick’.
In November 1916 a group of at least 29 men of the Hampshire Regiment, who were at that time posted to the 3rdBattalion, were transferred to the 2/6th Battalion Essex Regiment at Harrogate. Evidence from army service papers indicates that these men were in medical category Bi or Bii. Alfred was one of the men transferred. Most of these men were still posted to the 2/6th Battalion Essex Regiment when the Territorial Force was renumbered in 1917 and so they were given six figure service numbers beginning 277: Alfred’s number was 277241. The majority of these men were subsequently transferred to other units and Alfred is recorded as serving with the 3/6th Battalion Essex Regiment. The war medal roll shows that he was a Sergeant with the Essex Regiment.
In July 1919 Alfred was re-appointed Postman at Winchester.
Alfred and Elsie lived at 16 Vale Road, Winchester, in 1939 and Alfred was still a Postman.
It is possible that Alfred died at Winchester on 4/08/1942.
Sources:
Birth Indexes, 1891 Census, 1901 Census, 1911 Census, Militia Service Papers WO 96 Box 641 Record 116, Post Office Appointment Register, Hampshire Regimental Journal May 1915, Medal Index Card, Medal Rolls, 1939 Register, Death Indexes, Probate Records
Condition – GVF+, miniatures a little polished.
