Arthur Skinner
Service no 942
Private, Honourable Artillery Company
Died of wound to his back on 31 August 1916, aged 21 (died at St Thomas's Hospital, London SE1)
CWGC: "Son of Frank and Florence Skinner, of 4, Dalmeny House, Anson Rd., Holloway, London. Born at Huntingdon."
Remembered at Huntingdon (Priory Road) Cemetery, England
Information from the 1911 census
In 1911 Arthur Skinner, then a 15-year-old schoolboy, was staying with his aunt and uncle at 8 Arlington Mansions, Clifton, Bristol. Leonard Caudwell, 33, born in Hoxton, north London, was a schoolmaster; Ethel Caudwell, 36, was from Huntingdon. Annie Clark, Ethel's sister, aged 34, single and from Huntingdon, who was working as a secretary to a private gentleman, also lived in the household.
British Army Pension Records
Discharge
Discharged as no longer physically fit on 17 December 1915, aged 20 and 6 months
5 foot 9 inches, medium complexion, hazel eyes, dark brown hair
Insurance clerk
Intended place of residence: Star and Garter Home for Disabled Soldiers, Richmond, Surrey
Military character: good
"Honest, sober and trustworthy"
Discharged at Armoury House, Finsbury, EC
Arthur Leslie Skinner signed form at St Thomas's Hospital on 26 December 1915
Served 1 year and 135 days
Awarded pension of 25 shillings
Discharge approved 30 December 1915
Injury
- Wounded in action at St Eloi, France, on 2 May 1915. Hit by shrapnel when just behind trenches. Bullet entered just behind left shoulder and was found under the skin of the right shoulder in front. Immediate loss of power and sensation below mid-dorsal region. Paralysis of voluntary respiratory musces and muscles of the legs much wasted. Cannot voluntarily expel urine.
- Loss of control of sphincter
- Bed sores
- 25 May 1916 "Total incapacity"
Occupation
Insurance clerk, London Life Association
Military
Was in Clifton College OTC
Chest 35 inches + 2 inches expansion
Vision good
Physical development good
Home 5 August 1914 - 17 September 1914
France 18 September 1914 - 25 May 1915 (wounded on 2 May)
Repatriated aboard hospital ship St Patrick on 25 May 1915
Home 26 May 1915- 17 December 1915 (discharged)
Enlistment 4 August 1914
Honours
Frank Clark, Florence's brother, wrote from Huntingdon on 22 June 1922 to enquire why Arthur's parents had only received the 1915 Star and not the plaque and scroll and the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
London Infantry Records wrote back to say that this was because Arthur was discharged and therefore the award of these was "under consideration"
Frank Clark wrote again to tell them that Arthur's parents had moved to Winchmore Hill, N21, and to say he was sorry to note that these awards were "under consideration" as he assumed they were issued to all with a pensionable disability.
Arthur's mother wrote on 7 July 19122 to say that her brother's son had died from the same shell that wounded Arthur, but Arthur's cousin had died within 24 hours. Ends "with many apologies for trespassing on your valuable time"
Award of plaque and scroll approved 22 July 1922
The Medal Roll shows that he received the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Arthur's cousin was Frank Esmond Clark. In 1911 Frank lived at 11 Hartford Road, Huntingdon. His father, Frank Clark, was a coal merchant.