| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
Arthur was 21 when he died from wounds on 14 Nov 1917 following action against the Turks in Palestine. The Beverley Grammar School Old Boy enlisted with the East Riding of Yorkshire Yeomanry in Aug 1914 and found himself on route to Salonika before orders were changed and he arrived in Egypt on 10 Nov 1915.
Arthur was born in Hull in 1896 and baptized at St John, Newland on 2 Apr 1896, the son of Alfred Morley Best, a clerk and Frances (nee Barrett), the family was living at 3 Woodbine Terrace, Hull. Arthur’s sister, Gertrude was born in Hull in 1898, the family moved to 85 Welbeck Street by 1901.
By 1911 Frances with her children, Arthur and Gertrude was living at 8 Woodlands, Beverley and was a Lodging House Keeper.
Arthur was a pupil at Beverley Grammar School from 1908-1910 with a piece appearing in the Beverley Guardian in Oct 1914 headed 'Old Boys on Active Service', including Arthur’s name. He was a member of Beverley Cricket Club and it was reported at their annual meeting in Dec 1917 and printed in the Beverley Guardian that 11 of their members had been killed. In Mar 1918 a photograph of Arthur appeared in the Beverley Guardian together with the letter Arthur’s mother had received from his Squadron Commander. The letter told that on 13 Nov 1917 the Yeomanry were pursuing the Turks and “whilst my squadron were galloping in line we came under a heavy machine gun and rifle fire and it was then your son was hit through the stomach. He was able to ride back to the dressing station and went off in the ambulance the same evening.” Arthur died the following day and was buried near to Julis.
Arthur’s grave is in Gaza War Cemetery with the inscription “In loving remembrance from mother and sister”. Arthur is remembered on the East Riding Memorial in Beverley Minster and on the Beverley War Memorial in Hengate. His name also appears on the Beverley Grammar School Roll of Honour in Beverley Minster, St Mary’s Church Roll of Honour and the Church Lads Brigade Roll of Honour.
Includes information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |