Pte 17664 Arthur Maiden

• Age: 22
• From: Willaston, Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

William Arthur Maiden was born on 29th May 1894 in Willaston, Cheshire the son of Enoch Maiden and his wife Elizabeth (née Cottrell). His birth was registered as William Arthur in the third quarter of 1894. His father Enoch was born on 16th March 1856 at Dawley, Shropshire, his mother Elizabeth  was born in 1857 at Eastham Cheshire and they were married on 02nd September 1879 at Christ Church, Willaston and went on to have the following children, all of whom were born at Willaston; they were Minnie 1880, Albert Edward 1882, John 1884, Edith Lilian 1886, Thomas 1888, Bessie Cottrell 1890, Florence May 1892, Arthur William 1894 and Bertie 1898.

His brother Thomas died in 1897 when he was 9 years old.

At the time of the 1901 Census, the family is found in Headlow Road, Willaston, with eight children. His father, 45, is a railway signalman, his mother is 44.  His two elder brothers are working as clerks: Albert, 18, in an insurance office, and John, 16, in a shipping office.  Minnie, 20, and Lilian, 15, have no occupation, Bessie is 10, Florence 8, Arthur is 6 and Bertie is 3 years old.

His father, who had been a signalman for over 20 years, was knocked down at Ledsham by a light engine after leaving work at midnight on 21st June 1903. His death was ruled accidental, and son Albert identified the body.  Arthur was 9 when his father died, aged 47. 

In the 1911 Census the family are living at Neston Road, Willaston. Elizabeth is a widow aged 54 years, and she is living with her children, John aged 26 occupation, shipping clerk, Arthur aged 16 a domestic gardener and Bertie aged 13 yrs who is a scholar.

Prior to the war Arthur was learning gardening at Earl Manvers' estate in Thoresby, Nottinghamshire.

He was a member of Christ Church Willaston and a player for Willaston Football Club. 

Arthur volunteered soon after war was declared, enlisting in Liverpool on 14th September 1914 as Private 17664, 19th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment. His age is recorded as 21 years and 104 days (but based on his birth record he was 20 years old), and his occupation as clerk. He was described as being 5’ 10 and a quarter inches tall, weighing 154 lbs,37" chest, with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and light brown hair. He stated his religion as C of E and as next of kin his mother, in Willaston, near Chester, address later changed to 31 Town Lane, Rock Ferry. He served in No.2 Company, 7 Platoon.

Formed on 7^th September 1914 the 19^th Battalion trained locally at Sefton Park and remained living at home or in rented accommodation until November 1914. They then moved to the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th 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. Arthur arrived in France on 07^th November 1915.

He was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916, aged 22, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive.

19^th Battalion Diary 30^th July 1916

MALTZ HORN FARM

BATTLE begun. ZERO hour 4:45 am. The Battalion reached its objective, but suffered heavy losses, and had to evacuate its position owing to no reinforcements.

Everard Wyrall gives details of the attack in his book The History of The King’s Regiment; 

"The 2nd Attack on Guillemont- 29th July 1916 the 89th Brigade the 20th King's were to attack on the right and the 19th on the left. During the evening of the 29th the night was dark and foggy when the Battalions moved off and the 19th with Lt Col G Rollo commanding, when passing the South east of the Briqueterie they were heavily shelled first with H E and then with a new kind of asphyxiating Gas shell which had curious results, at first it had no nasty effect but about 8 hrs later men began to fall sick with violent headaches and pains in the stomach. All ranks had to wear gas masks which in the darkness and mist made the going terribly difficult. It was indeed wonderful that they were able to reach their Assembly point at all. But they did and by 2.45 a.m. on the 30th July 1916 the Btn was assembled having suffered about 30 Casualties on the way up ready for the Zero hour at 4.45 a.m.

It is known that the two left Companies of the 19th under Capt. Dodd and Capt. Nicholson advanced in touch with the 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers on their left although they suffered many casualties from Machine gun Fire did not encounter many Germans and reached their final objective about the time allocated, beginning at once to dig in south of the orchard on the South east corner of Guillemont.  

On the left of the 19th the Scots Fusiliers most gallantly forced their way through Guillemont to the eastern side of the village but were soon overwhelmed by the enemy and few returned. 

At 8 a.m. finding that the village was not held the two left Companies of the 19th received no word from the rear or either flank believed themselves to be totally isolated so were forced to fall back and dig in, their position being untenable.

At midday the effective fighting strength of the 19th Btn was just 7 Officers and 43 other ranks" 

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30^th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55^th Division during the early hours of the 31^st July.

Casualties in the 19^th Battalion were 11 Officers and 435 Other Ranks 

The events of 30^th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89^th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone.    

After hearing news from Arthur’s Pals at the front, his eldest brother Albert  sent a telegramme to Infantry Records on 14th August 1916: “Pte Arthur Maiden  17664  2nd Compy  7 Platoon  19 service batt Kings Liverpool Reg’t - early reply. Maiden c/o Lawrock Liverpool”

He sent a second telegramme on the 25th August and followed up with a letter on the 26th:

“Dear Sir,

I received your letter of yesterday with regard to Private Arthur Maiden, No.17664, 19th King’s Liverpool Regiment.  […]  We had received word from friends at the front that my brother had been killed, but were […] hopes that it was not true and were awaiting official word, hence my sending the wire.  Trusting you will put the matter in order […] Yours faithfully, A. E. Maiden.”

His family were officially informed of his death the same day.

The Birkenhead News of 26th August 1916 reported Arthur's death.

"Intelligence has been received that Pte. Arthur Maiden, of the "Pals" (King's Liverpool), was killed in action on July 30th in the Trones Wood fighting. Pte.Maiden, who was in his 23rd year, was a son of the late Mr. Maiden and Mrs.Elizabeth Maiden of Willaston, where he was born. He received his education at the local school and prior to the war was learning gardening at Earl Manvers seat, Thoresby, Nottinghamshire.  Then he returned home, enlisted in the 3rd Battalion of the "Pals," went out to France with the first draft in November 1915, and had since seen a considerable amount of fighting. A brother-in-law Pte.S.Burkey went to France at the same time as deceased, and has come out all right up to the present. Private Maiden was formerly a member of the Willaston Football Club,which participated in the Wirral Combination matches. He was also a member of Christ Church,Willaston". 

Arthur has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916. 

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

Army Form B.101-82 (official notification of death sent to next of kin) exists in his military record:

“It is my painful duty to inform you that a report has this day been received from the War Office notifying the death of 

(Number)   17664     (Rank)    Private

(Name)  A. Maiden   (Regiment) 19 Liverpool Regiment 

which occurred at  Place not known

on the 30th of July 1916 and I am to express to you the sympathy and regret of the Army Council at your loss.  The cause of death was Killed in action."

        "The King commands me 

to assure you of the true sympathy 

    of His Majesty and The Queen 

                 in your sorrow.”

        (Signed D. Lloyd George)

His family placed a notice in the Liverpool Echoon Monday 21 August 1916: :

“July 30, killed in action, in his 23rd year, Private Arthur Maiden (Pals), the dearly-loved son of the late Enoch Maiden and Mrs. Elizabeth Maiden, Willaston, Chester. - Deeply mourned by Mother and Family.”

Arthur earned his three medals. 

His mother was informed in December 1916 that there were no personal belongings of Arthur’s to be sent.

His Army pay and the War Gratuity of £8-10s went to his mother, who was awarded a pension of 5/- a week from March 1917.

Arthur's family paid tribute to him, on the first anniversary of his death, in the Liverpool Echo, on 30th July 1917 under the heading ‘Lost At The Battle of Guillemont’ a memorial notice was posted as follows:

“In loving memory of Private A. (Arthur) Maiden (Pals), who was killed in France July 30, 1916. There is a link death cannot sever; Fond remembrance lives for ever. Maria.”

“In loving remembrance of our dear Arthur (Pals), killed in action July 30, 1916, aged 22 years.

One year has passed – oh how we miss him;

Friends may think the wound has healed,

But little do they know the sorrow

That lies within our hearts concealed.

(Sadly missed and deeply mourned by his sorrowing Mother, Sisters, and Brothers.)”

He was also remembered on the second anniversary of his death in 1918:

"In affectionate and honoured memory of dear old Arthur (Pals), killed in action July 30, 1916.  (Fondly remembered by his sorrowing Mother, Sisters and Brothers, Willaston, Chester."

Arthur is also commemorated in St. John’s Church, Perlethorpe, Nottinghamshire. A plaque inside the church lists the names (including Arthur’s) of the men who served from the Thoresby Estate and Rufford Hunt kennels.

Arthur’s is one of 11 names on the brass plaques on the lych-gate at St John's Church, Perlethorpe, Notts. -

         1914 - 1918

TO THE MEMORY OF

THOSE WHO AT THE

 CALL OF KING AND 

COUNTRY LEFT ALL

THAT WAS DEAR TO 

   THEM ENDURED 

 HARDNESS FACED 

     DANGER AND

  FINALLY PASSED 

OUT OF THE SIGHT 

   OF MEN BY THE

PATH OF DUTY AND

  SELF-SACRIFICE 

 GIVING UP THEIR 

 OWN LIVES THAT 

  OTHERS MIGHT

 LIVE IN FREEDOM 

He is also commemorated on the Royal British Legion Memorial, Willaston. 

His younger brother Bertie likely lied about his age on enlisting. He served in the Machine Gun Corps and went to France in about July 1917.  He was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry in the field in 1917, at the age of 19.  He survived the war.

In 1919 his mother provided information on Arthur’s living relatives: She was at 1 Gladstone Terrace with daughter Bessie Burkey, 29, Florrie, 27, and Bertie, 21.  Daughter Minnie Pugh lived next door, Albert, 37, lived at 31 Town Lane, John, 35, also lived in Rock Ferry, and daughter Lilian Manning lived near Welshpool, Wales.

His mother died in 1928, aged 71.

We currently have no further information on Arthur Maiden, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.