Arthur Michael Durrant

LEVERSTOCK GREEN WAR MEMORIAL 1914 - 1918

Arthur Durrant was born on 29th September 1889 in West Ham London, the second child to parents Arthur and Alice, nee Pelly who had married in the summer of 1885 in West Ham. Alice great grandmother had been the prison reformer Elizabeth Fry, her father was the vicar of Saffron Waldron and Alice without her husband was living with her parents on the night of the 1891 census. 

The Vicar and his family lived at Walden Place which contained that night 18 people, along with the Vicar and his wife, their 8 children, a Vicar and his wife, a Nurse, an Under house maid, a Lady’s Maid, a Housemaid, a Cook and a Footman. Alice children stayed at the Vicarage with their Nurse, a Cook and a Housemaid.

Alice must have lived at Walden Place for a while, as along with her two sisters they are noted as bell ringers of Saffron Walden and it was written at the time,

 "It is imagined the first time in history that a peal of Church bells had been rung by a band of six women"

Alice’s father Raymond Pelly had a liking to the name Raymond. His first son was Douglas Raymond the second son was Theodore Raymond and a third son had again the name Raymond.

Arthur’s family were farmers, his father who by the age of 35 owned a farm of 290 acres employing 13 men and 3 boys. In 1881 having graduated from Emmanuel college Cambridge, Arthur was assistant housemaster at Hazelwell, College road, Cheltenham. In 1883 he is the Curate at St John's church Stratford, London were Raymond Pelly is the vicar. After marrying Raymond's daughter Arthur leaves St Johns for St Mary's, Plaistow, later to St Peters at Upton Cross then in October 1899 became the vicar of Leverstock Green until his death during 1936.

The 1901 census notes the Leverstock Green Vicarage containing the two parents, daughters Lorna and Enid, Alice’s brother Theodore R Pelly, Elizabeth Hyatt the cook, Rose Lee a housemaid and a nurse Harriet Littlechild. Arthur was away at school, staying in Hillside preparatory School, West Malvern, Worcestershire. Arthur attended Marlborough Collage, Wiltshire, a school for sons of clergymen between September 1902 and July 1905.

 During 1909 aged 20, a picture Arthur had drawn of the village church was out on show in the Royal academy, Arthur also joined the Honourable Artillery Company in London during March of this year, giving his address as, 117 Hanover Square, London. Resigning on 21st November 1910. , now aged 22 years.

Arthur, sometimes called Michael to distinguish him from his father, when home from school took part in many of the village concerts and fairs. As an architect he designed a parish hall for Leverstock Green along with Mr C Ford Whitcombe A.R.I.B.A. unfortunately this was never built due to the high cost involved. After qualifying as an Architect in 1912, Arthur worked at the firm of Moore-smith and Durrant of 14 Union Court E.C. (Architects) Arthur specialised in church building, he was the architect for St James church in Watford, consecrated in 1913 and the parish church at Broadstairs. 

August 4th 1914 and war is declared, Arthur enlisted on 29th August aged 25 years he had previously served four years in the Sussex Yeomanry and had been discharged in 1913 as time served. His height on enlistment 5 feet 6 inch and three quarters.

First posted as a private in the 10th battalion Royal Fusiliers with the number 662. The 10th battalion was the first Pals battalion known as the Stockbrokers. From Leverstock Green Arthur, Alfred Chisman and Herbert Secretan all enlisted in this battalion. His address was Leverstock Green Vicarage but any correspondence was to be sent to “Pancake” Leverstock Green, this house now demolished was on the edge of Leverstock Green on the St, Albans Road. Then home to Thomas Granville Randolph, soon to be a captain in the army and winner of the Military Cross.

On applying for a commission which was confirmed on 30th November, Arthur is posted to the 8th battalion Loyal North Lancashire regiment. Commanded by his uncle, Raymond Theodore Pelly. His Outfit allowance was £42.00 and 13/6 a day pay as an officer. Arthur went over to France on the 4th December 1914. Having transferred to the Royal Engineers, tunnelling section.

Mining around the area of Ploegstreet an enemy listing post was located and broken into by the British and an explosive charge only partially destroyed the German gallery, so a second charge had to be set. With the Germans now aware of the British presents in their tunnels an attack was imminent. While an officer kept watch for any Germans, Arthur helped lay a second charge and when fired destroyed the German tunnels. For this Arthur was awarded the Military Cross. The war diary for the company states that the canary proved a great success as a test for foul air.

Arthur’s award of the Military Cross as published in the London Gazette.

"For conspicuous gallantry and recourse near Frelinghiem on 23rd December 1915.

When a charge was placed by our mines in a German gallery had only partially exploded and warned the enemy, Second Lieutenant Durrant with two other officers succeeded in placing and firing a second charge which demolished the enemy’s gallery. There was imminent danger throughout of the Germans exploding a mine"

For several months Second Lieutenant Durrant has been carrying out dangerous work in almost constant contact with the enemy and has set a fine example of coolness and determination.

The second officer with Arthur also won a military cross, he guarded the hole made by the first explosion and had to shoot at the Germans to stop them taking over the tunnel's.

On the 2nd February 1916 Arthur was officially transferred from the 8th bn Loyal North Lancashire Regiment to the Royal Engineers and whilst on leave he married Jemima Wilson in the spring of 1916 at Westminster Cathedral, London

30th March 1916 Arthur is temporarily attached to the controller of mines for the 3rd Army.

 Men and officers, some from other tunnelling companies were posted to No 4 Base depot in the old town of Rouen to create the 257th Tunnelling company. On leaving Rouen on the 28th June and arriving at Bethune the next day, it was here Arthur catches up with the company arriving on the 30th, coming from 4 Base depot.

Arthur is temporary promoted to the rank of acting captain, whilst commanding a section of a tunnelling company with effect from 1st July 1916. This happens again on the 28th October, whilst the commander is away on leave. 

9th October 1916 East of Winchester crater an attack by a small party of British soldiers was to take place. Arthur was in charge of two sections of Royal Engineers, one section would blow a way through the German barbed wire with Bangalore torpedoes, the second section would put mobile charges in any German mine shafts and working with the accompanying infantry, taking on an Germans, in the event the Engineers tried to blow a Bangalore torpedo under the German wire, this failed to explode, so all parties retired back to the British lines safely. 

Arthur, who was in charge of a pumping and listening tunnel, in a section of trenches called "Chapigny", north of an area known as "Winchester crater" here unfortunately, during a German bombardment, he was killed by shell fire at 2,30p.m. the 5th December 1916. The war Diary for the 257th Tunnelling company, noted on the 7th December at 11,a.m. the funeral of Lieutenant Durrant.

The first news of his death sent to his father arrived by telegram at the Vicarage read as follows

“Deeply regret to inform you that Captain A. M. Durrant M.C. R.E. was killed in action Dec 5. 

The army council express their sympathy – please inform us of your initials.”

The vicar was away staying at Holly Lodge, Pokendown, and on receiving the news required from the army confirmation his son had been killed.

The Hemel Gazette recorded Arthur’s death in an article during December listing his war service, this was between adverts for shops on one side and an article to remind people of the Christmas shopping times and to shop early on the other.

The only item returned to his wife was a silver cigarette case inscribed A. M. DURRANT, from St, Leonard’s, Cotheridge.   St, Leonard’s is the parish church of Cotheridge, a village in Worcestershire.

Mrs Durrant received a letter from the war office during April 1917 with regards to Arthur having been mentioned in a dispatch by General Sir Douglas Haig.

"I have it in command from his majesty the King to inform you as next of kin of the late

CAPTAIN ARTHUR MICHAEL DURRANT. M.C.

of the Royal Engineers, that this officer was mentioned in a dispatch by General Sir Douglas Haig dated 13th November 1916 and published in the second supplement to the London Gazette of 2nd dated 4th January 1917 for gallant and distinguished service in the field.

I am to express to you the Kings high appreciation of these services and to add that his Majesty trusts that their public acknowledgement may be of some consolation in your bereavement"

Arthur was included on the service for the parish at Easter 1919 and was named on the Leverstock Green memorial and Hemel town memorial. St James church in Watford has a plaque in the church to Arthur.

Link to Arthurs CWGC site:

He is buried in Pont-Du-Hem Military Cemetery. La Gorgue, Nord, France. Plot 11. Row C. Grave 11. He was 27 years old.

 Jemima lived at Cedar Cottage, Greywell, near Winchfield, Hampshire. She remarried in April 1923 and in 1950 applied for a pension from her marriage to Arthur.

Douglas Raymond Pelly became during the war a Reverend in the Royal Army Chaplains Department

Theodore Raymond Pelly started the war a captain and ended a Brigadier General C.M.G. and D.S.O. receiving in 1919 the Order of the Bath for services in Italy. 

Arthurs sister Lorna Milicent was born two years before Arthur in 1887 and died during 1950

Two photos of Arthur's sister Dorothy Mary born in 1906. Dorothy married Robert Allan Clayton during February 1932, but tragically died in a flying accident in 1933, after her husbands death.

Link to photos of Dorothy taken at the National Portrait Gallery 

Link to air-crash 

Enid Mary, Arthur's sister born in 1897

 Enid married Charles Hazeldine Moore in September 1920. The pair were divorced in 1929 and Enid married an American Thomas George Anson in 1930.

 Enid died in 1971

Thanks go to Marlborough Collage, Wiltshire for information on Michael

Thanks go to Paul Quilliam for picture of Arthurs death plaque 

LEVERSTOCK GREEN WAR MEMORIAL 1914 - 1918