Rifleman Arthur Ernest Catchpole
| Date of Birth | 22/03/1874 |
|---|---|
| Age at Death | 45 |
| Date of Death | 10/04/1918 |
| Service Number | 2/12533 |
| Military Service | Kings Royal Rifles Corps |
| Merton Address | |
| Local Memorial | Streatham Park Cemetery |
Additional Information
Arthur was born on 22 March 1874 and appears to have been known as Ernest to his family from a young age. His father, Joseph, was a gas fitter and his mother, Sarah, was a needlewoman. They had eight children and Ernest was number seven with six sisters and one brother, Albert.
He grew up in Suffolk and married Ellen Hoadley in Croydon, Surrey on 7 August 1896. By the 1901 census they were living in Speldhurst, Kent and Ernest’s occupation is shown as “Private Soldier”.
They had ten children: Ernest, Arthur, Edward, William, Albert, Philip, Joseph, Victor, Stanley and Leslie.
By 1911 the family were living in a 4 room house at 12 Paxton Place, West Norwood and his occupation is shown as Domestic Gardener on the census.
He enlisted under his legal forename, Arthur and joined the King Royal Rifles. There is very little information about his military career available but it would appear that he was discharged in February 1916 and he died at home on 10 April 1918.
Ellen went on to remarry in 1921 but did not have any more children.
Arthur/Ernest is commemorated in Streatham Park cemetery on the foot of the War Memorial.