L/Cpl 15002 Arthur James Henshaw

• Age: 26
• From: Garston, Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Wednesday 12th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Delville Wood Cem, Longueval
  Panel Ref: XXXI.K.8

Arthur James Henshaw was born on the 04th April 1890 and he was baptised on the 21st May 1890 at St Peter's Church, Liverpool. He was the son of James Phythian Henshaw, and his wife, Mary Jane (nee Vicars) who married in 1873 at St Saviour,s Church, Liverpool.

The 1881 Census shows that the family lived at ‘Hillfield’, Island Road, Garston, when James is described as a corn merchant and they employed two servants.

On the 1891 census the family are living at 51 Island Rd, Garston. His father, James P., is a 47 year old manager of Assurance Co. born in Liverpool, mother Mary J. 41 also born in Liverpool. They have six children in the household; William E. 15 scholar b.Liverpool, Thomas V. 13 scholar b.Liverpool, Edith 9 scholar b.Garston, Frederick 7 b.Garston, Albert 3 b.Garston, Arthur J. 1 b.Garston. Also 2 servants Elizabeth Finney 18, and Martha E Hazlewood 18.

In 1901 they are at 41 Berkley Street, Toxteth, when James is an insurance manager, his eldest son, William, is an insurance clerk, and his next son, Thomas, is an architect’s assistant.

On 03rd January 1907, his father James Phythian Henshaw died aged 63.

On the 1911 census his mother Mary Jane is a widow, now 62 years old, and lives with her six children, her widowed sister and a servant at ‘Lyndhurst’, Brookfields Gardens, West Kirby. Her sister Edith Hannah Adamson is 50 years of age. Her children are listed as; William Edward 35 Insurance clerk, Edith 29, Frederick 27 cotton salesman, Albert 23 sugar brokers clerk, Arthur James 20 cotton salesman, and servant Ann Jane Woodall 23. 

Arthur James was amongst the first to join the Pals when he enlisted in Liverpool on 31st August, 1914 joining the 17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 15002, one of the Cotton contingent.

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14^th September 1914, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.

He had been promoted to Lance Corporal 15002 when he was killed in action, aged 26 years, on 12^th July 1916 during the fighting for Trones Wood. Many of the casualties of the Trones Wood fighting have a death span of between the 10th - 12th July, such was the ferocity of the fighting, it was hard to distinguish the date of death. 

Arthur now rests at Delville Wood Cemetery, Grave XXXI K 38.

The Deeside Advertiser reported his death on 04th August 1916 as follows:

WEST KIRBY LANCE CORPORAL

KILLED IN ACTION

Few young men in the Deeside district were more popular than Lance Corporal Arthur James Henshaw, news of whose death - about the 11th ult- has just come to hand, and the greatest sympathy is being shown to his bereaved relatives.

The deceased who was 26 years of age, met his death, it is supposed in the recent "grand push" was the fifth son of the late Mr James P Henshaw and Mrs Henshaw, and resided up to the outbreak of war with his mother at 33 Westbourne Road, West Kirby. When the Liverpool "Pals" were instituted he was one of the first to join. 

His brother Albert of the 18th Battalion K.L.R. died on 09^th July 1916, having been wounded in action on 1^st July 1916. On 2^nd July he was admitted to 5 Casualty Clearing Station suffering from shrapnel wounds to his fingers, legs and a compound fracture of his arm. On 9^th July he died of his wounds in 2^nd Stationary Hospital in Abbeville and according to Revd S. M. White was buried the same day in Abbeville Cemetery in Grave V B II.

Albert's death was reported in the local press under the header:

WEST KIRBYITE DIES FROM WOUNDS

The death is reported from wounds received in action of Private Albert Henshaw ("Pals"), fourth son of the late Mr James P. Henshaw and Mrs Henshaw, Westbourne Road, West Kirby. The deceased soldier was educated at the Liverpool Institute and was associated with the firm of Messrs. Edward Grey and Company, sugar Merchants, Liverpool. He had been at the front some 8 months and was highly esteemed by his comrades.

Soldiers Effects to mother Mary J., no Pension record found.

Both brothers served in France from 07^th November 1915 and each earned all 3 medals.

Both are also commemorated on the family headstone in Toxteth Cemetery.

Arthur James is commemorated on the following Memorials:

West Kirby Civic Memorial

St Bridgets Church, West Kirby

Liverpool Cotton Association, Walker House, Exchange Flags, Liverpool

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall Panel 55 Right 


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