My grandfather, private Farnk Arnold, a Royal Fusilier, was killed in action at Vimy Ridge on April 14 th 1917. He belonged to a small supportive British Unit carrying ammuntion to the Canadians at the front line. He had been told he should be invalided home - whether this was due to shell shock, will never be known. Then that all changed. An order was given stating that every man who was able to stand and walk, should go to support Candians at the front line. It was on this push that he was killed by shrapnel.It pierced his chest. On his body close to his heart was found the pictures of his two beloved daughters, Jessie almost 17 and Babs 7. Through the middle of the pictures there is a ragged hole caused by shrapnel. As well as this was a letter written two months earlier but never posted, a letter to his eldest daughter for her 17th birthday in February. He was posted missing, believed killed. Jessie never received the presnt mentioned. Another card found said "look after mum until I come home, love and kisses dad"His burial place is unknown,although we know it was somewhere on a tiny hill called The Pimple ,Vimy Ridge and his name recorded on Arras memorial.

Rosemary Webster