Medal Index Card
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Arthur Kenneth Atkinson born 3rd quarter 1896 in Etherley, County Durham, son of John and Margaret Atkinson (nee Newman) baptised September 6th 1896 at Bishop Auckland. His father was in domestic service, his mother a housewife (census 1901.)
Arthur enlisted August 17th 1916 at Stockton for one year, with the undertaking that it could be extended in a time of emergency. Sapper 131400 A. K. Atkinson was assigned to 234th Field Coy Royal Engineers, attached to the 39th Division. He was just 20 years old, 5 feet 4½ inches tall with an anchor tattoo on his back right shoulder and in civilian life worked as a blacksmith whilst living at 2, Ford Terrace, Chilton Buildings near Ferry Hill. He underwent military training in England as of August 17th 1915 and continued with his blacksmith skills having been classified by the army as skilled and later after undergoing a test was reclassified as superior.
May 9th 1916, at Plymouth, Arthur was transferred to the 12th Mechanical Bridge Team attached to the 32nd Division and issued with his kit consisting of, valise, haversack, carriers cartridge - pair, braces - pair, straps supporting - pair, bottle - water, carrier bottle - water, tin - mess, carrier tin - mess, belt - waist, frog (jargon - leather bayonet sheath.) Sent to the front September 21st 1916, as part of the British Expeditionary Force, once there, he transferred August 31st to the 206th Company Royal Engineers.
Arthur was hospitalised on three occasions during his service, the second resulting in him being allowed leave to return to England from August 28th 1917 - September 7th 1917 and the third in October 1918 leading to his receiving the Military Medal. This medal was an award first established March 25th 1916, a decoration for personnel of the British Army and Commonwealth Countries for gallantry and devotion to duty when under fire on land.
The announcement appeared in the London Gazette, the official paper of the government in England, on October 7th 1918 (ref. 11824 Supplement London Gazette) and in the Edinburgh Gazette October 9th 1918 and began in both instances with the words; His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the Military Medal for bravery in the Field to the undermentioned, Non-Commissioned Officers and Men.
November 11th 1918 brought the Armistice and an end to hostilities but post war work continued. Less than one month later, December 3rd 1918, Sapper Arthur Kenneth Atkinson was accidentally killed along with an officer and four other men by an explosion of German ammunition they were salvaging. All six are buried together in a row, in the south west part, near the Chapel at Soumoy Communal Cemetery, Namur, Belgium.
Arthur’s military headstone bears the additional words, God called him home - it was his will - but in our hearts - he’s with us still, his family paid sixteen shillings for this.
A letter was sent to his father John, December 16th 1918 notifying him of his son’s accidental death and the circumstances, however, as the result of a report submitted to the War Office along with his Will, January 3rd 1919, a further letter, dated February 4th 1919, was received to the effect that he was, “killed in action.” An amendment to this effect was added to his service record.
The War Office issued instructions, June 4th 1919, that any personal property and medals granted to him were to be dispatched to his mother, Mrs Margaret Atkinson of Ramshaw Road, Ramshaw, Bishop Auckland.
In God’s Loving Care. Rest In Peace.
Arthur Kenneth Atkinson is remembered at Chilton on C107.01, C107.04 and C107.12
