Lance Serjeant 17892 Arthur John Broad MacDiarmid

• Age: 23
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: 13th Kings
• Died on Tuesday 8th October 1918
• Commemorated at: Forenville Mc
  Panel Ref: H.6

Arthur John Broad MacDiarmid was born in Liverpool on 11th April 1894 at 22 Plimsoll Street, Liverpool the son of George and Lily MacDiarmid.

The 1901 Census finds the family living at 2 Eastbourne Street, Everton. His father George is shown as a Public House manager born in Liverpool in 1862 whilst his mother Lily was also born in Liverpool in 1865. Arthur has 6 siblings declared on the records; George b. 1885 an apprentice joiner, Francis b. 1886 a Barman, Albert b.1890, Lily b.1894, Jessie b.1898 and Richard b. 1901. There is also a servant declared on the Census.     

Arthur enlisted in Liverpool, almost certainly at St George's Hall, on 23/9/14 as Private No 17892. He was posted to 3 Company of the 19th Battalion King's (Liverpool) Regt [3rd Liverpool Pals]. Formed on 07^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. He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.

At some point he transferred to the 11th Battalion - as a result of being wounded during the battalion's actions on the Somme in 1916. He was to transfer battalions on two more occasions - to 2/6 KLR on 24/2/18 and to 13 KLR on 24/8/18 - this was probably as a result of being wounded or falling ill. He must have returned to the UK in 1917 as he married Mary Louisa Reese (b. 1894) in Liverpool in that year - after the war she was living at 15, West Parade, Rhyl, Flints. By the time of his death on 08th October 191818 Arthur was a Lance Sergeant with the 13th Battalion. He was one of 48 officers and men killed that day, during the second battle of Cambrai.

Arthur now rests at Forenville Military Cemetery Row 11 Grave 6 where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"UNTIL THE DAY BREAK AND SHADOWS FLEE AWAY"

Forenville village was captured on the 08th October 1918 and two cemeteries were made nearby: La Targette British Cemetery and Forenville Military Cemetery (at first Forenville Communal Cemetery Extension). La Targette British Cemetery was made by the 3rd Division on 15 and 24 October 1918, close to a German Cemetery. It contained 49 graves, mostly of 8 October. It was removed to Forenville Military Cemetery after the Armistice. Forenville Military Cemetery was made by the Guards and 2nd Divisions between 10 and 20 October 1918 and it contained originally 52 graves (of which 19 belonged to the 1st Royal Berks). The site was chosen in continuation of a German Cemetery, now removed. Forenville Military Cemetery contains 101 First World War burials. The cemetery also contains the graves of six Second World War airmen.

The epitaph is taken from the Song of Soloman. 

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