Capt Arthur de Bells Adam (MC)
1885 - 1916

CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916

Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916

Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916

Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918

Pte 58566 Arthur Milsom

Age: 23
From: Warrington, Cheshire
Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
K.I.A Friday 22nd March 1918
Commemorated at: Pozieres Memorial
Panel Ref: P21-23

Arthur was born in Warrington on 17th February 1895 the son of George James Milsom and his wife Mary Jane (nee Lovelock). His parents married at Lydiard Tregoze, Wiltshire on the 05th November 1881.

On the 1891 census, prior to Arthur's birth the family are living at 5 Silver Street, Warrington, father is recorded as "Charles" aged 34 a railway labourer born in Ledbury, Gloucs.

The 1901 Census finds Arthur aged 6 living with his parents and eight siblings at 47 Forster St, Warrington. His father is 44 years of age, a soap works labourer and was born in Little Ledbury, Gloucestershire, whilst his mother is 39 years old and was born in Lydiard Tregoze, Wiltshire. His siblings are listed as; Charles H. aged 18 a packing box maker, George 17 farm labourer, Oliver 16 farm labourer all three born in Hallom, Gloucestershire, Martha 13 born at Dinas Powys, Glamorgan, all of the other siblings were born in Warrington; William 11, Fanny 9, James 7 and Florence 4.

By the time of the 1911 Census, Arthur is a 16 year old living at 101 Longford St, Warrington. His father George James is aged 53 a bricksetters labourer b.Gloucestershire, mother Mary Jane is 49 years of age. They advise that they have been married for 30 years and have had 14 children of whom 11 have survived. Thos children listed are; William 21 a wire drawer, Fannie 20 velvet cutter, James 17 cotton spinner, Arthur 16, Florence 15, and two new arrivals since 1901; Edith aged 8 and Walter aged 6. (Signed J. Milson)

Arthur enlisted in Warrington and originally served as Private 31040, Cheshire Regiment. He was transferred and served with the 19^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 58566

He was listed as wounded in the Weekly Casualty List on 18th September 1917 - King's Liverpool Regt - Milsom 58566 A. (Warrington).

Details of his wounding were reported in the Runcorn Examiner on 01st September 1917

FIVE SONS WOUNDED

LONGFORD STREET'S FAMILY FINE WAR RECORD

It falls to the lot of very few parents to have the honour of five sons serving in the Army. Yet this proud distinction is held by Mr. and Mrs. C. Milsom, of 101, Longford-street.. In addition, they have two nephews and two sons-in-law in the Army. Three of the sons are at present in hospital wounded and sick, two in France and one in Salonica, whilst the fourth is in a training camp in the South of England, after being wounded in France. The fifth son was wounded in the left lung at Givenchy in March, 1915, and has since been discharged. The eldest son, Charles, aged 36, a widower, enlisted in the Territorials, and was two years in France. He was badly wounded in the face and back on August 13th, 1916. Having lost the sight of one eye, he is now engaged as a cook in one of the training camps in the South of England. George, who is single and aged 34, is a Private in the (censored), and took part in the Dardanelles campaign. Later he was transferred to Salonica, but for the past eight months he has been in hospital at Tigne, Malta, suffering from a nervous breakdown. William, aged 28, has served seven years in the local Territorials. He was called up on the outbreak of war, and went across to France in February, 1915. He was wounded in the left lung at Givenchy in March, 1915. Since his discharge, about twelve months ago, he has been working on munitions at Whitecross. James, aged 24, was in the Regular Army for four years, and was discharged. He rejoined his old regiment, the South Lancashires, shortly after the outbreak of war, and has been in France for a considerable period. At present he is in hospital suffering from shell shock. The youngest member of the family, Arthur, who is 22, enlisted in the King's Liverpool Regiment. He is also in hospital, having been wounded in both legs.

Arthur was killed in action on the 22^nd March 1918, aged 23, during the German Spring Offensive.

The Battalion diary gives an insight into the events of the day:

22^nd GERMAINE – HAM- MOYENCOURT

The battalion moved up accordingly being in position at 6:30 a.m. About 3pm the enemy attacked the left of our position and advanced on our left flank towards FLUQUIERES. At 4:30 pm an attack was launched on our front and the enemy forced his way through on our right. The remainder of the Battalion was forced to retire to south of FLUQUIERES. During this engagement the Battalion lost 11 Officers and About 21 O.R. The order was given to retire to the defences at HAM. The Battalion by this time was very weak, and passing through the 20^th Division took up positions in HAM, as ordered, getting into position at 2am.

His death was reported in the St Helens Reporter on 04th May 1918:

PRIVATE A. MILSOM

Private Arthur Milsom of the King's Liverpool Regiment, son of Mr and Mrs Milsom, 101 Longford Street, has been killed in action. Writing to Mr Milsom his officer says "Your son Private Milsom was killed in action on the 22nd of March. Your son was a very good soldier and we miss him very much. The officers and men of this company sympathise with you in your great loss." Private Milsom, who was 23 years of age enlisted over 2 years ago and had been in France 16 months. Private Milsom has four other brother's serving: Private Charles Milsom, South Lancashire Regiment, Private George Milsom, Leinster Regiment, Private James Milsom, South Lancashire Regiment, and Private William Milsom, South Lancashire Regiment.

Arthur has no known grave and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial.

The POZIERES MEMORIAL relates to the period of crisis in March and April 1918 when the Allied Fifth Army was driven back by overwhelming numbers across the former Somme battlefields, and the months that followed before the Advance to Victory, which began on 8 August 1918. The Memorial commemorates over 14,000 casualties of the United Kingdom and 300 of the South African Forces who have no known grave and who died on the Somme from 21 March to 7 August 1918.

The cemetery and memorial were designed by W.H. Cowlishaw, with sculpture by Laurence A. Turner. The memorial was unveiled by Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien on 4 August 1930.

Soldiers Effects for Arthur Milsom (struck out to Milson) to mother Mary Jane, Pensions also for Milsom and Milson to mother.

His father's death occurred between the 1921 census and 1933 as his mother was a widow on a probate record for the death of Charles Henry.

Widowed mother Mary Jane, dob 22nd June 1861, appears on the 1939 register still at 101 Longford Street, Warrington.

His mother died in the June quarter of 1942 aged 80.

We currently have no further information on Arthur Milsom, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.