Arthur Melville Dewhirst was born in Shipley in 1891, the son of William Henry Dewhirst and his wife Clara, nee Firth. During both 1901 and 1911 census periods the family were living at 46 Birklands Road, Shipley and by the latter date, Arthur was working as a clerk for the council. On 21 June 1918 the Shipley Times & Express included Quartermaster- Sgt M Dewhirst, R.A.M.C. in a list of men who had been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. The following March it followed up with a second story: “At the close of a meeting of the Shipley Urban Council, held on Tuesday, the chairman, Cllr Thos

Hill, J.P., presented Mr A M Dewhirst, employed in the council’s offices, with the Meritorious Service Medal,which was awarded to him during his military service at the headquarters of the 62nd Division. “Mr Dewhirst was Quartermaster- Sgt in the R.A.M.C. and enlisted at the beginning of the war and while on the strength of the 62nd Division he was chief clerk to the Deputy Director of Medical Services. “He served abroad from January 1917 until the conclusion of hostilities last November.” Arthur married Dorothy Bell Wrathall in April 1921 and the couple had two children.

Arthur died on 28 January 1931 while living at 8 Grove Avenue, Frizinghall, his death noted by the local newspaper: “The death occurred on Saturday, after a long illness, of Mr Arthur Melville Dewhirst, 8 Grange Avenue, Frizinghall. “Mr Dewhirst, who had only resided in Frizinghall for a few months, resided for several years in Marlborough Road, Shipley. “He had for about 30 years been on the administrative staff of the Shipley Urban Council. At one time Mr Dewhirst served in the accountant’s department but for about five years he had acted as commercial assistant in the electricity department.

“Mr Dewhirst was of a genial disposition and a most conscientious member of the Shipley Urban Council staff. “He was 44 years of age and leaves a widow and two young children, with whom great sympathy is felt in their sad bereavement. “The funeral took place at Nab Wood Cemetery, Shipley, on Tuesday, after a service conducted by the Rev R S McHardy at Rose Street Baptist Church, Shipley. Mr Harry Haigh was at the organ.” Amid a long list of mourners is the name of Mr E Riddihough (ex R.A.M.C.).