Arthur Jessup (1881-1917)

Post date: Sep 01, 2015 9:16:47 PM

Arthur was born in Crouch, near Platt in 1881, the son of Jesse (born in Mereworth) and Jane Jessup (born in East Peckham). Jesse was in 1891 a farm labourer, living in Pizien Well and Arthur was the youngest of 5 children (the others being half siblings), attending Wateringbury School. At school his fees (2/-) are recorded as having been at paid in March 1890 by the guardians on his behalf and in August 1890 the school log records:

"Arthur Jessup was reported by Mr. Bourne to have fainted at ten O’clock. I found him in a convulsive fit. Carried him out of doors under a tree, bathed his head and hands with vinegar and water. He had had no breakfast, he said, but had eaten half an apple and some cocoa-nut. He afterwards had another fit which was so strong as to cause me to send for the doctor, who came and ordered him to be sent home."

In 1901 he was still single, living at home with his parents in Old Road, Pizenwell, and working as a bricklayer's labourer. By the time of the 1911 census he was living as a boarder at 110, Tennyson Road, West Ham, Essex, working as a labourer. His father had died by then but his mother was still living at the same house. It is possible that he was the Arthur Jessup who married in West Ham in the summer of 1911.

We do not know when he enlisted as a rifleman (service number s/6207) in the 8th Battalion of the Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own) but it was at Charing Cross and by then he was living in Merton, Surrey.

The 8th Battalion was formed at Winchester in August 1914 as part of the First New Army (K1) and then moved to Aldershot to join the 41st Brigade of the 14th Division. In Nov 1914 they moved to Farnham and then back to Aldershot. In May 1915 the 8th battalion landed at Boulogne and engaged in various actions on the Western front: 1915 the German gas attack at Hooge; 1916 The Battle of Flers-Courcelette (part of the Somme offensive in September 1916); 1917 the Battle of Arras-engaged at Inverness Copse (April/May 1917).

Arthur won the Distinguished Conduct Medal (D.C.M), an award second only to the Victoria Cross in prestige, in 1916. Arthur Mires was the other village holder of the D.C. M. The citation reads as follows:

S/6207 Pte. A. Jessup , Rlf Brig. (LG² 14 Nov. 1916)

For conspicuous gallantry in action, when, although wounded,and being the only one of his gun team left , he carried his gun up to the objective, and then brought up the magazines and laid the gun for action. He was ordered by his C.O¹. to go to a dressing station, but was found several hours later still at his post.

He was killed in action on 1st October 1917.

He is buried at the Commonwealth's War Grave Cemetry at Kandahar Farm was near the village of Wulverghem (now Wulvergem), Belgium and for much of the war, the front line ran a little east of the village. His grave reference is II. F. 37

Arthur never makes it to the vicar's lists of those serving in the war but he is included on both the village and school memorials.

Notes:

1. C.O. =Commanding Officer.

2. LG = London Gazette where D.C.M. citations published.