| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
Arthur came from a military family and was born at Victoria Barracks, Beverley, in 1879, the son of Thomas, a soldier in the Royal Engineers and Jane (formerly Scott, nee Frost). In 1891 Arthur aged 12 was a scholar, living with his mother, Jane, and five siblings in Farnborough, Hants. By 1901 the family had returned to live in Beverley.
Arthur joined the Army, details given in a report about his death published in the Beverley Guardian stated, “At the outbreak of the war, having been on Foreign Service for a number of years, (Arthur) was serving with the 15th Company of the Royal Engineers, stationed in Gibraltar.” He was transferred to the 45th Company and remained in Gibraltar where he was in charge of the Regimental Shoemakers’ Shop. It was reported in the Beverley Guardian of 16 Sep 1916, that:- “Sapper Brett was admitted to hospital on 11 May with a swelling in the face which developed into septicaemia (acute). He passed away on 18 May.” Arthur, who ‘was respected by all’, was given a military funeral on the morning of 19 May 1916, starting from the Military Hospital, Europa.
He was awarded the British War Medal. Arthur was unmarried, and was 38 years old when he died.
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |