Pte 235201 Henry Arrowsmith

• Age: 19
• From: Ashton under Lyne
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 9th October 1917
• Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 31-34

Henry was born in the December quarter of 1897 at Lock House, Edge Lane, Droylsden, Ashton-under-lyne, on the Ashton Canal. He was the son of William Arrowsmith and his wife Mary Elizabeth (nee Tomlinson). William was born in Macclesfield and was employed as a Lock keeper, his wife was also born in Macclesfield. They were married in December quarter 1875 in Macclesfield. Henry appears to have been their 18th Child of the 19 they had of whom 11 died pre 1911.

Henry enlisted as Pte 235201 into the 19th Battalion of the King's Liverpool Regiment in Liverpool. It appears he was attached to the Machine Gun Corps.

" On the night of 6th October 1917 the 19th went first into the front line they relieved the 2nd Bedfords in the Ravine sub sector, the relief was completed by 11. p.m. Rose Wood, Ravine Wood and the Ravine were special targets on which the enemy's gunners wreaked their vengeance at the same time each day or night, apparently seemed to him to be a successful bombardment. "

Aged, just 19, Henry Arrowsmith appears to have been one of the casualties of their bombardment on 06th October 1917.

Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.

The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

Sadly the CWGC site have him incorrectly listed as Pte. 285201 instead of 235201. Enquiries are ongoing with the CWGC to see if they can rectify the error.

His Army pay of £3:14s:7d was sent to his Father William on 25/02/1918. He died the following year in the March quarter of 1919.

A War Gratuity of £3:10s was sent to Henry's mother, Mary Elizabeth, on 21/11/1919.

She claimed her son's Army Dependants Pension at her new address 3 Radley Street, Edge Lane, Droylsden from 4th July 1919 till her Death aged 68 on 28 January 1924

She had in total mourned the loss of 12 of her 19 children and her husband.

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