Arthur Grange was born on the 22nd of February 1891 and baptised at St Luke’s Church, Eccleshill on the 5th of April 1891, the son of Harley and Clara, nee Marshall of 91 Chapel Street. In 1901 the family with Harley’s father at 93 Chapel Street and Harley was working as a woollen mill carter. Three more children had been born to them, Walter Horace, Edith Annie and Frederick Harry. who died in 1903 aged 7 years. By 1911 the family had moved next door to No. 35 Chapel Street. Harley is working as a mechanic labourer and Arthur as a warp tierer employed at Messrs John Pilley and Sons. Arthur was a playing member of the Idle Athletics and Cricket club and had received medals for the Hospital Charity Cup and league.

He was also a member of the Eccleshill Congregational Sunday School and had an active interest in gymnastics, cricket and football clubs, being a member of Eccleshill Cricket Club. Arthur enlisted on the 15th of November 1915 as Private 53635 in the 19th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry and on a home leave married Emily Garforth on the 10th June 1916 at St Luke’s Church, Eccleshill. At 25 years Arthur was a Lance Corporal and his address was given of the family home at 95 Chapel Street. Emily was 26 years old and living at 6 Craven Terrace, Eccleshill. In December 1915 he was one of several Army volunteers to receive

a parcel from his previous employer John Pilley and Sons of tobacco, cigarettes, chocolate, socks and mittens. Training was completed on Salisbury Plain before 19th Batt. sailed from Southampton on 31 January 1916 and landed at Le Havre on the 2nd of February when they entered the trenches near Neuve Chapelle for the first time. On 1 July 1916, the 19th Battalion moved south by rail to join the Somme battle in the trenches near Longueval. The battalion did little fighting as they were ordered to dig new communication and reserve trenches. Never-ending shell fire, however,

caused many casualties. At the end of August 1916, the 35th Division, including the 19th battalion left the Somme for the front at Arras. The Arras offensive began on the 9th of April 1917 and Arthur was killed in action on the 6th of May three days after the start of the Battle Bullecourt. He was 26 years old. Arthur is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial recording the names of the men who fell on the Somme battlefields but to whom the fortunes of war denied the burial given to their comrades in death, He left his effects to his widow Emily who received £6.10.8d on the 19th of September 1918 and the War Gratuity of £7.0.0d. Researched and written by Jean Britteon, to whom many thanks