Arthur Henry Kinshott
Arthur was born in Hemingford Grey in 1880 to Henry, a coachman, and Fanny (née Rudd). The family home was in Church Street, Hemingford Grey. Arthur's father died in 1883. Fanny married Arthur Roberson, an ostler, in 1885. They lived in White Horse Yard, St Ives, 1891. With no trace of Arthur in the Census records for 1901 or 1911, there is little information about his later childhood.
In 1915 Arthur enlisted and joined the 6th Battalion, Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. He left for France on 18 September 1915 and was immediately in combat. In 1916 he fought in the Battle of the Somme, one of the bloodiest battles in military history.
The Battle of Flers-Courcelette lasted a week, starting on 15 September 1916. Noted for the first use of tanks in battle, the plan was to use forty-nine tanks. Initially very unreliable, all but fifteen broke down. Nevertheless their use had a devastating effect on local German morale and advances of up to a mile were made, something of an achievement. Poor weather and extensive German reinforcements halted the exercise, British forces suffering heavy casualties.
Wounded during the battle, Arthur was moved to a hospital on the southern outskirts of Rouen. He died of his wounds on Monday 25 September 1916, aged 33yrs. He is buried at St Sever Cemetery, Rouen, France.
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| A British tank used for the first time at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette |
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