Private Arthur Edwin Gayner

Arthur was born in Chelsea in 1876. His mother was named Mary and his father Edwin, was employed as a Smith and Gas Fitter. In 1881 the family lived at 92 Church Street, Chelsea. Arthur aged four years was the eldest child, and his siblings were Percy, Charlotte and Laura. Sadly, both his sisters died at an early age. The household also included Ada, who was described as a Servant/Nurse. Ada could have been employed to help nurse Laura, who died in that year aged just five months.

By 1891, the family were still living in Chelsea, at Queens Elm Parade. Edwin’s occupation was now described as a Plumber and Decorator. The family had now grown to include Ethel, Gertrude, Emily, and Florence. Another boy, William, sadly died the following year. Arthur aged fourteen, was employed as an Office Boy. The family then moved south of London, as by 1901 they were living on the High Street in Mortl

On 20 October 1901, Arthur married Constance Lizzie Fullman, in Kent. The couple eventually set up home at 95 Lyveden Road, Mitcham (now Tooting), and by 1911 they had two children, Arthur aged eight and Eva aged five. Arthur was employed as a Builder’s Clerk.

During the Great War, on 7 December 1915, at the age of nearly 40 years, Arthur attested at the Wimbledon Recruitment Centre under the Derby Scheme. This scheme was introduced to encourage men to voluntarily register their name on the principle that once registered they would be called up for service only when necessary. As an added incentive, married men were advised that they would only be called up once the supply of single men was exhausted. The scheme proved to be unsuccessful, and compulsory conscription was later introduced.

It is not clear when Arthur was called up, but he was initially with the 5th Reserve battalion, Royal Fusiliers, later transferring to the 11th (Service) Battalion. His physical description was: Height 5 feet 3.1/2 inches, weight 113 lbs, Chest 34 inches, and his occupation was as a Clerk.

During 1916, the 11th Battalion took part in various battles on the Somme, including the Battles of Albert, Bazentin Ridge, Delville Wood, and Thiepval Ridge. Another significant battle was the Battle of the Ancre (13–18 November 1916) which was the final phase of the first battle of the Somme. After this battle, British attacks on the Somme front stopped for the winter. Until January 1917, both sides were reduced to surviving the rain, snow, fog, muddy fields, waterlogged trenches and shell-holes.

Further operations of the Ancre resumed from 11 January – 13 March 1917. It was during these attacks on the German lines on the 17 February, that Arthur was killed in action. The battalion’s War Diary entry for that day reports that along with officers, 39 other ranks were killed. The following day the battalion was relieved.

Arthur is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, and locally on the Mitcham War Memorial.

His wife Constance received his final pay of £2.11.6 plus £3.00 War Gratuity. She lived in the Mitcham area, until her death aged 69 in 1946.