Born on the 5th August 1887 Arthur was the son of Edward and Emma Harvey who lived with their four other children in West Street, near the Black Swan. Sadly by 1891 when the census is taken Edward had died and Emma was living in the home of Harry Batchelor in Telegraph Street, where she was employed as a Housekeeper. With her she had two small children Harry (3) and Albert (1).  This census also shows that Arthur was, possibly because of lack of space in the house in Telegraph Street, living in the Union Workhouse. He is listed as a Scholar and Emma is clearly identified as his mother. On the 6th April 1891, the day after the census is taken, Emma enrols Arthur into the Shipston Infants School. Arthur’s address is again noted as the Union Workhouse and it is interesting to note that when Harry is enrolled on 21st September, his address is noted as being Parkers Yard. On the 2nd July 1894 Arthur moved up from the Infants School to the Boys School, which he left on the 18th September 1900. The 1901 census shows Arthur working as a ‘cow boy on farm’ at Starveall Farm, Charingworth, Gloucestershire, working for Thomas Marshall Fisher, a farmer. Starveall Farm is now known as Charingworth Grange. In the same census it is clear that Emma has married Harry Batchelor and they are living in New Street together with their young family. Arthur signed up in early September 1914 in Birmingham and was in the second two hundred thousand men to answer Kitchener’s call.  He joined the 10th (Service) Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment who were part of the 19th Division. Training was undertaken at Tidworth and the Division moved to France over the period 11th to 21st July 1915. ‘D’ Company of the 10th Warwicks, which included Arthur, arrived in Boulogne aboard SS Golden Eagle at 2am on the 19th July. By the 4th August 1915 the Battalion was in the trenches near Estaires and was taking part in working parties.  As soon as the 6th August the Battalion had suffered its first casualties. On the 19th January the war diary shows the Battalion in the front line at Neuve Chapelle and ‘D’ Company holding a section from ‘Oxford Street’ to the ‘N.E.B.’ The following day was, the diary notes, fine with showers.  It also simply notes ‘7221 Pte Harvey Killed in Action’. The Stratford Herald of the 4th February 1916 reported: Last week news was received thatPte Arthur Harveyof 10th Royal Warwicks had been killed in the trenches in France by a shell on the previous Friday. The deceased was a quietsteady man & generally liked. He was among the first in the town to join Kitcheners army and previous to enlistment he was employed at the Gas Works. Great sympathy is felt for his relatives. This is the 4th Shipston man to have fallen. The Stratford Herald of the 11th February reported: Last week news was received from Lance Cpl S. Begley, son of Mr and Mrs Begley of Horn Lane, of the death of Pte Arthur Harvey, 10th Royal Warwicks, who was struck by a shot while in the trenches in France and died shortly afterwards. The deceased was a stepson of Mr H. Batchelor of Round Hills Farm Barcheston and was a very steady & quiet young man and was generally respected. The Evesham Journal, reporting on the arrival of the same letter from Sam Begley, carried the following: A letter has been received by Mr H. Bradley, of Station-road, from Lance-Corpl. S Begley of “D” Co., 10th Batt. Royal Warwicks, informing him of  the  death  of  his cousin, Pte. Arthur Harvey, better known as “Moses”.  The deceased was one of a group of young men who answered Lord Kitchener’s call soon after the commencement of the war. Previous to joining the army he was employed by the Shipston Gas Works. He had been in France about six months. The letter was as follows:- “Sunday 23-1-16. Dear Harry, - I am writing these few lines to you with deepest sympathy, to inform you of the death which occurred to our old pal, Arthur Harvey. He was struck by a shell in the trenches last Friday afternoon, whilst doing his best for King and country. He only lived a very short time after the accident occurred, and I can assure you he is greatly missed by all the lads from our company, and by whom he was very much respected.  We all felt the blow very much, as no doubt you will at home. I thought it my duty to write and let you know and hope you will pass the word around his friends and relatives. Jupp and myself are going on alright. Now old pal, I think this is all for this time, so I will conclude with deepest regret at having to write such a letter to you. I remain, yours truly, Sam Begley.” Arthur was buried in St. Vaast Post Military Cemetery in the village of Richebourg-L'avoue. He is remembered on both School Memorials and on a plaque in the church at Barcheston.

Mike Wells