Arthur Devenish was the 5th born of 6 surviving brothers and 2 sisters, offspring of Charles William Hull Devenish and Margaret Davey. His father was born at Purleigh in 1858, Margaret in 1862 at Great Falham, both in Essex, where they were married in the district of Maldon in 1876. Charles William Hull Jnr was born in 1882, Harry 1885 and John 1887 at Witham, Thomas at Epping in 1890. In 1891 they were living at Galleywood Road, Chelmsford, Charles was employed as a farmer’s horse-keeper. They remained at Chelmsford for the next 3 years and Margaret gave birth to Arthur October 29th 1891 and Jane in 1894. By the time Effie was born in 1896 they had migrated to the north east and settled at Cornsay where George was born in 1899. Charles William Snr was now employed as a coke filler, Charles William Jnr (19) was not employed, Harry (16) and John (13) worked as miners at the colliery and although the remainder of the children, with the exception of George, were of school age, they are not listed as such. The family were living at 160, Chadwick Street, in 1901 and had moved into 4 rooms next door at number 159 by 1911. Still employed as a coke filler he maintained the family with the help of his unmarried sons coal hewer and putter, Thomas (22), Arthur (19) and Effie (15) an apprentice dressmaker. Jane (17) assisted her mother at home, George (12) attended school as did Richard Ray (6) their adopted brother.
When war was declared with Germany Arthur was still living with his father at 159, Chadwick Street, Cornsay. Arthur enlisted December 21st 1914, for the duration of the war, assigned as Private 943, to the newly formed 23rd (4th Tyneside Scottish) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. Having completed their initial training at Newcastle they transferred to Alnwick Camp in the grounds of Alnwick castle early May 1915. They joined the 102nd Brigade, 34th Division concentrating near Ripon later that month, late August moved to Salisbury Plain for final training. The Division departed to France January 1916, concentrating near La Crosse, east of St. Omer. After a further period of training and trench familiarisation the 34th Division moved to the Somme in preparation for the commencement of the Battles of the Somme. His two elder brothers John and Thomas serving with the 24th Northumberland Fusiliers were also in the sector when they all received news of their mother Margaret Devenish nee Davey’s demise, May 18th 1916, aged 54 years. She was interred at St John the Baptist Churchyard, Hamsteels, County Durham.
Programmed to begin June 29th but delayed by bad weather, the opening Battle of Albert began at 7:30 on the morning of July 1st. Private Arthur Devenish was wounded in the right leg by a gun shot and evacuated back through the lines by the Field Ambulance to the 3rd Canadian Stationary Hospital at Boulogne. Repatriated by hospital ship to England he was admitted to the Military Hospital at Chatham, July 5th, discharge July 17th. During this time, he most probably would have learnt that his brother Private John Devenish had been killed in action July 1st and Private Thomas Devenish had been wounded, although his wound was not life threatening, and he survived the conflict.
Once fully recovered and retrained Arthur was drafted back to the front re-joining his regiment in the field. He was wounded a second time, a gun shot in the left leg, in the Aisne sector, September 6th 1917, evacuated by the 103rd Field Ambulance back through the lines he was admitted to the General Hospital at Rouen, September 12th, repatriated to England and admitted to one of the Auxiliary Military Hospital at Oswestry, Shropshire on the 18th. After 11 days he was transferred to the military hospital at Ashton-in-Makerfield, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, October 9th 1917.
His injuries no longer permitted him to serve overseas in the front line. He was transferred, March 5th 1918 to the Royal Air Force with the rank of Private 2nd Class as of April 1st. He was posted to the 232nd Squadron, December 1st 1918, which had been formed August 20th 1918 from No’s 333,334 and 335 Flights at Royal Naval Air Station RNAS Felixstowe and equipped with flying boats which carried out anti-submarine patrols over the North Sea until the end of the war. Private Arthur Devenish transferred to Class G Reserve RAF, equivalent to Class Z Army, January 17th 1919, free to return to his civilian occupation but under the obligation to return to service should hostilities resume with Germany. With the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, June 28th 1919, this danger was eliminated bringing WW1 officially to an end. Awards; British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Post-war Arthur returned to Essex where he was married in 1924 at Chelmsford to Winifred Murrell, known as Minnie, born born 1899. Unfortunately, Minnie Devenish died in 1925, interred July 10th at St. Mary and St. Lawrence, Great Waltham, Essex. His father Charles William Hull Devenish died in 1926, aged 69 years, in the district of Lanchester.
Arthur married for a second time in 1926 in the district of Braintree, Essex to Alice May Clark, born at Chelmsford, September 21st 1894 and with whom he had 3 children, Violet May July 24th 1930, Sheila A 1937 and Nita S in 1938 at Chelmsford. He returned with Alice May to the north east, in 1939 they were living alone at 18, Gillow Street, district of Lanchester, he maintained them both employed as a colliery hewer below ground. Their daughter Violet May (9) was being cared for at High Road, Chelmsford, by widow Edith M Devenish (relationship unknown) and attended school. Although I have been unable to trace their other children in 1939, as adults they all married and remained in Essex.
Arthur Devenish died aged 83 years, June 18th 1975, Alice May Devenish nee Clark, January 17th 1981 aged 86 years, both registered in the district of Durham Central where they were cremated.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Arthur Devenish is not remembered on a local War Memorial.
