Gunn, Arthur Thomas
Age: 22
Date of birth: 1896 (Q2)
Parents: Arthur Henry (Harry) and Caroline (nee Bagust) Gunn
Wife: Mary Edith Annie Batchelor
Address: Hawkes Cottages, Heathcote, Warwick
Occupation: Farm labourer
Arthur was born in the village of Hornton, Oxfordshire, just south of the Warwickshire border. At the time of the 1901 Census, he was living with his parents and a younger sister, Angela (8 months) in the parish of Wroxton, Oxfordshire where his father was working as a carter on a farm.
By the 1911 Census, the family consisted of Harry and Caroline and three children: Arthur (15), Angela (10) and William (5) and they were living in Stockingford, near Nuneaton. Harry and Arthur were both working as banksmen at the local colliery.
After his discharge from the army, Arthur worked for a short time as a carman for London and North West Railways. The National Union of Railwayman records him becoming a member of the Coventry Branch in May 1918.
Also after discharge, Arthur married Mary Batchelor in June 1917 in Warwick. The records show that his discharge papers were passed to his widow when he died in December 1918.
Military Service
Rank & Number: Rifleman, Z/841
Regiment/Service: The Rifle Brigade
Brigade/Division:
Date of death: 30th December 1918
Cause of death/Battle: Died after discharge
Commemorated/Buried: Warwick Cemetery, Birmingham Road, Warwick
Awards: Silver War Badge
Commemorated locally at:
Arthur signed up in Warwick on 2nd September 1914. His attestation papers record him as aged 19 with a pale complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. He was 5′ 7″ tall and had been working as a farm labourer.
He was appointed acting Corporal on 30th January 1915 but reverted to a private rifleman, at his own request, on 30th April 1915. He was posted with the Expeditionary Force on 29th July 1915. He returned to England on 13th October 1915 where he remained until September 1916.
He was posted to France on 30th September 1916 but returned to England on 23rd December and remained there until his discharge due to ill health on 6th February 1917. He appears to have had a heart condition that was “not caused but aggravated by the strain of active service”.
His discharge papers note that his military character was “Very Good” and that he was “sober and industrious.”
Contributors
- Unlocking Warwick Research group