Born: 6 May 1897, Bradford
Died: 25 September 1916
Buried:
Address: Hamilton Cottage, Apperley Bridge
Parents: Arthur & Isabel
Spouse:
Siblings: Harold
Occupation:
Organisations/clubs:
Military
Rank: Sec-Lieut
Medals/awards:
Rolls of Honour: Greengates; Thiepval Memorial
Children:
Regiment: KOYLI
Arthur Victor Skevington
Arthur was one of the many young
men whose education and time on
an OTC saw them quickly
commissioned when war broke out.
They suffered one of the highest
casualty rates of any group.
On 20 October 1916, the Shipley
Times & Express reported:
Arthur Victor Skevington, KOYLI,
killed in action on Sept 25th, was
the youngest son of the late Mr
Arthur Skevington and Mrs
Skevington of Hamilton Cottage,
Apperley Bridge.
Educated at Giggleswick School,
he afterwards joined the Leeds
University Officer Training Corps,
received his commission in October
1915, and had been at the Front two
and a half months.
He was 19 years of age.
A fellow officer writes:
“He was leading his men
with the utmost gallantry
when he fell, shot
through the head. His
death was instantaneous.”
His brother, Harold R
Skevington is also in the
KOYLI is at present
home on sick leave.
In his tribute to the deceased
officer, the Rev W H Power, Vicar
of Greengates, says “By the death
of Second Lieutenant Skevington
the church at Greengates has
received a great blow.
“He was a lad of charming
personality, a worthy specimen of
the men that our public
schools turn out. His last
thought would have been
to start a quarrel, yet
when the call came that
his country is in danger
he nobly responded.
“It only seems like
yesterday that I wished
him God speed on the
vicarage steps. We had
hoped that the son of a
worthy father and worthy mother
would be spared to carry on the
good works which his father did
and his mother continues to do.
“It is not to be but we earnestly
trust that God in his Paradise will
give him higher duties.”
The De Ruvigny Roll of Honour
contains a letter written to his
parents by his Lieut Colonel: “your
boy was killed on 25 September
while gallantly leading his platoon.
He was a most gallant young
fellow, very popular with everyone
and a most promising young officer
and his death is a very great loss to
this battalion. Your boy always did
his best and his best was very
good.”
And a private wrote: I was one of
the three boys who was with Lieut
Skevington when he fell. He died
without a murmur – like a
Britisher; he was loved by us all.”
