Pte 57691 John Aram

• Age: 21
• From: Beeston, Derbyshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 9th April 1917
• Commemorated at: Arras Memorial
  Panel Ref: Bay 3

John Aram was born in 1896 in Beeston, Derbyshire and was the son of John Aram and  his wife Sarah Sturgess (nee Johnson) who married on 19th January 1893 in Sandiacre, Derbyshire. John junior was baptised on 05th April 1896 also in Sandiacre, Derbyshire. 

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 19 Manchester Street, Long Eaton, Derbyshire. His father, John is aged 39, born in Toton, Nottinghamshire in 1872, his occupation is listed as Cycle maker and Agent, whilst his mother Sarah Sturgess  is aged 42, born in 1869 in Sandiacre, Derbyshire. They have been married for eighteen years and have five children. Elizabeth aged 17, born 1894 is a dressmaker born in Sandiacre. John aged 15, born 1896 is a cycle maker, Ernest aged 6, James aged 3, born 1908 and Winifed aged 1. All of the children were born in Beeston with the exception of Winifred aged 1, born 1910 in Long Eaton, Derbyshire.  

He enlisted in Long Eaton, Derbyshire and originally served as Private 384, North Midland Cyclist Company and following a transfer was serving in the 18^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 57691 when he was killed in action on the 09^th April 1917 aged 21 during the Battle of Arras.

Arras 09^th April 1917

Details of the circumstances the18^th Battalion had to contend with are illustrated below:

The battalion formed the left assaulting battalion of the brigade, the 2^nd Wiltshire Regiment being on the right, the 19^th Manchester Regiment being in support and 2^nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment furnishing “moppers -up”  for the two assaulting battalions. The brigade advance was timed to begin at ---- hour after “Zero”, suited to conform with the movements of 56^th Division and other divisions on our left further north (near Arras). This battalion’s objective was the front-line system Lion Lane on the left (exclusive) to Panther Lane on right (exclusive). This sector included the strongpoint known as “The Egg”.

The brigade advanced at prearranged time, i.e., 11.38 a.m, from position of assembly trenches south of Neuville Vitasse to German front line. This necessitated an advance across the open of at least 2,000 yards. This area up to Neuville Vitasse- Henin road was crossed in artillery formation; after this, owing to machine-gun fire and considerable resistance from German posts forward in the sunken roads, it was found necessary to deploy. During the whole movement across the open the advancing columns had been under considerable artillery fire from guns of all calibres. On gaining the position immediately in front of German line it was found that the wire was practically uncut; this wire formed two strong belts in front of German trenches. Two small gaps were eventually discovered and Second-Lieut H.F.Merry gallantly led a bombing party through them, but his three remaining men were killed as they reached the German trenches.

From the moment the battalion was “held up” in front of German wire Capt. R. W. Jones, the senior company commander on the spot, at once began the work of consolidating in front of German wire. The battalion held on in this position for the remainder of the day, until relieved by the 16^th Manchester Regiment about 3 a.m. on the 10^th of April, all the time under intense machine-gun and rifle fire.

Between 9th-10th April, 1917, the 18th King's lost 2 officers 2nd Lt. F. Ashcroft and 2nd Lt. H.G. Ewing and 59 other ranks killed. 8 other officers were wounded.  

John has no known grave and is commemorated 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). 
 

Soldiers Effects and Pension to mother Sarah S., 155 College St, Long Eaton.

His family remembered John on the second anniversary of his death in the Nottingham Evening Post on 09th April 1919:

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