Pte 16654 James Arthur Fullerton

• Age: 23
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: 13th Kings
• Died on Thursday 3rd May 1917
• Commemorated at: Arras Memorial
  Panel Ref: Bay 3

James Arthur was born in Liverpool on the 22nd May 1893. the son of James Fullerton and his wife Elizabeth (nee Gore). He was baptised at St. Bridget's C. of E. Church, Wavertree on 16th July 1893.  The family residence was then 37 Gordon Street, Liverpool and his father's occupation was recorded as an engine driver. 

The 1901 Census shows the family are living at 80 Lawrence Road, Wavertree. His father, James, is a 47 year old railway engine driver, born in Shropshire, whilst his mother, Elizabeth, is 37 years of age and was born in Liverpool, she has no occupation listed. There are five children in the household, all of whom were born in Liverpool; Lizzie is 15 years old and is a confectioner, Margaret is 12, James A. is 7, Gertrude is 5 and Lillie is 2.

The family are still at 80 Lawrence Road at the time of the 1911 Census. His parents are both present and advise that they have been married for 19 years and have had 10 children, 8 of whom have survived. His father is now a retired engine driver. There are four children in the household; Margaret is a 23 year old shop assistant in a general store, James Arthur is a 17 year old shipping clerk, Gertrude is a 15 year old shop assistant in a draper's shop and Lillie is 12 and a schoolgirl.    

James enlisted in Liverpool at St George's Hall on 31st August 1914, joining the 18th Battalion as Private 16654, giving his age as 21 years and 90 days and his occupation as a clerk. He was described as being 5'6 inches tall, weighing 123lbs with a 36 inch chest. He was of fresh complexion with grey eyes and brown hair. His next of kin was stated as his father James of 80 Lawrence Road, Wavertree.

From the 23^rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03^rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th 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.

James Arthur was wounded on 01st July 1916 during the Liverpool Pals atttack on Montauban. He was treated at a Casualty Clearing Station beofre reaching 9 General Hospital at Rouen. He was shipped back to the UK on 03rd July and reached hospital on 05th July. The hospital situated in Warrington was appropriately named The Lord Derby War Hospital. He was treated for shrapnel wounds to his right shoulder and was discharged from the hospital on 25th November 1916.

James Arthur returned to France on 20th December 1916 being posted to the 1st Battalion upon arrival at Etaples.

He was then transferred to the 13th Battalion on 23rd December 1916 and served with them until he was killed in action on 03rd May 1917 aged 23. 

The battalion diaries give an insight into the action that James experienced as part of 13th Btn when on 01st May 1917 they moved from Arras.

"Throughout the night of 1st /2nd May the Bosche had placed a heavy gas shell, shrapnel and high explosive barrage,on the whole area West of Monchy and the ground South of it. The Barrage threw the back area into confusion.

At 3.45 a.m. on 3 May 1917 commenced The Third Battle of The Scarpe our 3rd Barrage in spite of the Gas and lachrymatory fumes which hung about our batteries near Monachy, opened up punctually, it was followed almost immediately by the Enemy's barrage. Two Companies of the 13th moved out of the front trench. Strong Lewis Gun Fire was maintained on the Enemy's front line to prevent his escaping the barrage by leaving his trenches.

A hostile counter attack was launched at the leading Companies from the North and North  East.
It was beaten back..........A second and strong hostile Counter attack which was delivered from the Northern flank, was met very gallantly, but the line was by this time so thin, no support having come up, that a withdrawal was necessary to prevent the troops being cut off."

The Kingsmen consolidated their position, though constantly under heavy fire.

The Battalion lost 10 Officers in that attack but the Battalion Diary does not give other Ranks Casualties. However, the Brigade HQ Diary for May 1917 records total losses of the 13th King's from 2nd to 12th May 1917 as 12 Officers and 46 Other Ranks Killed in Action with 32 Missing  and 139 Wounded.

James Arthur Fullerton was one of those statistics whose body was never found, his name is recorded on the Arras Memorial in France.

The ARRAS MEMORIAL commemorates almost 35,000 servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand who died in the Arras sector between the spring of 1916 and 7 August 1918, the eve of the Advance to Victory, and have no known grave. The most conspicuous events of this period were the Arras offensive of April-May 1917, and the German attack in the spring of 1918. Canadian and Australian servicemen killed in these operations are commemorated by memorials at Vimy and Villers-Bretonneux. A separate memorial remembers those killed in the Battle of Cambrai in 1917. Both cemetery and memorial were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, with sculpture by Sir William Reid Dick. The memorial was unveiled by Lord Trenchard, Marshal of the Royal Air Force on the 31 July 1932 (originally it had been scheduled for 15 May, but due to the sudden death of French President Doumer, as a mark of respect, the ceremony was postponed until July).

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on 24th May 1917:

Fullerton - May 3, killed in action, aged 23 years, James Arthur the beloved and only son of James and Elizabeth Fullerton, 80 Lawrence-road, Wavertree (His duty, nobly done.)   

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