Peter Wise and Brenda McMahon have submitted the following:-
Arthur was the son of parents James who died in 1908 (general labourer) and his wife, Sarah died in 1907 (nee Atkinson) at Startforth in 1883 and was baptised on 2 February that same year.
He had several siblings including Richard (labourer), Janet, Anna, Sarah, George, Martha and Thomas.
The 1891 census shows the family living together at Startforth.The family were still living at Startforth in 1901 although the older members of the family seem to have moved on. His father is now a labourer for a builder’s scaffolder whilst elder brother, George, was also a labourer. Arthur is working as a packer in a flax mill.
Immediately after the census on 1st May 1901 Arthur joined the Northumberland Fusiliers.
At the age of 28 the 1911 census shows Arthur to be in H.M. Prison Northallerton, accused of stealing timber he was fined £2 and costs or one month in detention 6th March 1911
Following 12 years service with the Northumberland Fusiliers (including service in the West Indies 1902. South Africa 1902-3, Mauritius 1903-5) he was discharged due to termination of engagement. However, he re-enlisted from August 18th 1914. He was posted to France 29th October 1914.
His service record shows Arthur’s conduct to be appalling especially between his re enlisting and his general service in France. However he must have been competent enough to be later promoted to the rank of lance sergeant. His offences were invariably due to drunkenness and many absences for which he regularly received Field Punishment No.1 which is a very harsh punishment indeed. His list of offences is too long to show here as it is also very difficult to read much of the detail.
Arthur had been in France since the start of hostilities. In a letter to his father in the Teesdale Mercury 18/08/1915 he wrote:
“We were determined to retake the trenches which were lost through the Germans using liquid fire. It was a very strong position, and was as important for the enemy as it was for us because it commanded a big stretch of country. We then commenced to advance under terrific shell fire, which soon began to shrink our ranks. We reached the enemy’s first line of trenches and at once occupied them, The Germans retiring up the communication trench to their second line. We soon had them out of that, capturing two machine guns. Then the bombers got to work, both theirs and ours, and one of our fellows even took off his coat to it, and yelled for more bombs, but I am sorry to say he was not seen again. We advanced again up to the third line of trenches and took them, and also a crater of a mine which the enemy had blown up when they took the trenches. They held it strongly, they had retired into it. It was very well fortified but it was no use. We then occupied it, which was like a shambles and I hope never to see the likes of it again. We started to repair the fort as soon as we got in, but had to knock off on account of the shell fire and aerial torpedoes, which are awful things. I was one of twenty-five who were buried with one of those things but escaped with severe shaking and the drum of one of my ears burst.”
The injuries he received at this time were recorded on his medical sheet as that on August 9th 1915 “There was an explosion of aerial torpedoes rendering Arthur unconscious. He was deaf in the right ear. He had headaches and ongoing ear problems.
By September 11th 1915 he was improving then by 25th September he was considered to be much improved so was given 10 days leave then assigned to light duties.
Between September 4th 1916 until September 25th Arthur was treated at the London General Hospital for neurasthenia which nowadays is known as chronic fatigue syndrome.
He was posted to the 10th Battalion D.L.I about December 1916.
Arthur died of wounds on May 9th 1917 at no. 55 Field Ambulance Station. He appears to have suffered a gunshot wound to the head and thigh and also a fractured femur.
His personal items which were returned to his family included a disc, letters, cigarette case, numerals, bag and a coin.
His total service in WW1 amounted to 2 years 265 days.
Arthur Willie Little is remembered at Barnard Castle on B135.02, B135.23 and B135.25
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 113
