Thank you to Patricia Brazier for the following research.
Arthur was baptised at the parish church of Westcott on 19th January 1897. He was born on 31st December 1896. His father, Job is a labourer, born in Capel. His mother Hannah was born in Holmwood.
Job and Hannah married in Dorking in January 1875. They had 12 children and lived in various places around Surrey.
In the 1881 census the family are in Seale, then in 1891 they are in Warnham. In 1901 they are living in Bookham, Job’s occupation being a farm labourer in each case.
Although the family lived in many places in Surrey, Arthur did attend school. His first School was St Marks School in Reigate. He then attended St Martins School in Dorking from 1901 to 1910.
In the 1911 Census, Arthur’s parents are living in South Street Dorking with two of their youngest children. Arthur is living with his sister Marian Martin, in West Street, Ewell. He is a Messenger Boy employed by the Post Office.
Arthur enlisted into the Middlesex Regiment at Willesden on 26th July 1915; he was 19 years of age and a Postman. He was living at 13 Victoria Road, West View, Earlswood. His Battalion left England on the HMS Caledonian on 13th November 1915 as part of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force and arrived in Suvia, Gallipoli on 8th December 1915. They were involved in the Battle of Scimitar Hill where they sustained very heavy losses. The regiment were then moved to Alexandria, Egypt.
In May and June of 1916, Arthur was hospitalised with Pyrexia (Fever) and Synovitis (inflammation) He returned to his unit in Ismailia in July 1916.
Arthur died on 26th March 1917. This was the first day of the battle of Gaza and he is remembered on the Jerusalem Memorial in the Jerusalem Cemetery 4.5 kilometres from the Walled City.
His medals and personal effects were sent to his father Job, who was living in Reigate.
Arthur’s brother Joseph Sidney served in the Navy. His brother Frederick served with the 13th Battalion Middlesex Regiment. They both survived the war. His brother Nelson served with the Hampshire Regiment and died 8th February 1917 aged 36.
| Born | Westcott | |
| Lived | Earlswood | |
| Next of Kin | Job and Hannah Weller of 54 Allingham Road, South Park, Reigate, Surrey | |
| Regiment | 2nd/10th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment | |
| Number | TF/293601 | |
| Date of Death | 26th March 1917 | |
| Place of Death | Egypt | |
| Cause of Death | Killed in Action | |
| Age | 21 | |
| Cemetery | Jerusalem War Cemetery, Israel |
