Pte 57927 Arthur Francis

• Age: 25
• From: Portsmouth
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 9th April 1917
• Commemorated at: Arras Memorial
  Panel Ref: Bay 3

Arthur Francis was born in 1891 in Portsmouth and resided in Southsea, Hampshire , the son of William Osborne and his wife Eliza Alice (nee Hudson) who were married in 1890 in Portsea. He had a younger brother Herbert, born in 1892.

His father died in Portsmouth at the age of 35 in January 1901, the probate record showing his name as Osborne William and his address 124 Somers Road, Southsea.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 39 Lawrence Road, Portsmouth. His widowed mother, Eliza A., is aged 32 born in Chatham, Kent, living with her two children Arthur aged 9 and Herbert aged 8 who were born in Portsmouth.

The 1911 Census shows mother Eliza is resident as a ladies tailor at Royal Portsmouth, Portsea and Gosport General Hospital. She is a widow now aged 42, and her son Herbert is a valet at the Royal Albert Yacht Club, Southsea. Arthur at present cannot be found.

Arthur enlisted in Chelsea, London and served originally as Private 628 of the London Divisional Cyclist Company. Following a transfer he was serving in the 18^th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 57927 when he was killed in action on the 09^th April 1917, aged 25, during the Battle of Arras.

Arras 09^th April 1917

Details of the circumstances the 18^th Battalion had to contend with are illustrated below:

The battalion formed the left assaulting battalion of the brigade, the 2^nd Wiltshire Regiment being on the right, the 19^th Manchester Regiment being in support and 2^nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment furnishing “moppers -up”  for the two assaulting battalions. The brigade advance was timed to begin at ---- hour after “Zero”, suited to conform with the movements of 56^th Division and other divisions on our left further north (near Arras). This battalion’s objective was the front-line system Lion Lane on the left (exclusive) to Panther Lane on right (exclusive). This sector included the strongpoint known as “The Egg”.

The brigade advanced at prearranged time, i.e., 11.38 a.m, from position of assembly trenches south of Neuville Vitasse to German front line. This necessitated an advance across the open of at least 2,000 yards. This area up to Neuville Vitasse- Henin road was crossed in artillery formation; after this, owing to machine-gun fire and considerable resistance from German posts forward in the sunken roads, it was found necessary to deploy. During the whole movement across the open the advancing columns had been under considerable artillery fire from guns of all calibres. On gaining the position immediately in front of German line it was found that the wire was practically uncut; this wire formed two strong belts in front of German trenches. Two small gaps were eventually discovered and Second-Lieut H.F.Merry gallantly led a bombing party through them, but his three remaining men were killed as they reached the German trenches.

From the moment the battalion was “held up” in front of German wire Capt. R. W. Jones, the senior company commander on the spot, at once began the work of consolidating in front of German wire. The battalion held on in this position for the remainder of the day, until relieved by the 16^th Manchester Regiment about 3 a.m. on the 10^th of April, all the time under intense machine-gun and rifle fire.

Between 9th-10th April, 1917, the 18th King's lost 2 officers 2nd Lt. F. Ashcroft and 2nd Lt. H.G. Ewing and 59 other ranks killed. 8 other officers were wounded.  

Arthur's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial in France.  

The ARRAS MEMORIAL commemorates almost 35,000 servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand who died in the Arras sector between the spring of 1916 and 7 August 1918, the eve of the Advance to Victory, and have no known grave. The most conspicuous events of this period were the Arras offensive of April-May 1917, and the German attack in the spring of 1918. Canadian and Australian servicemen killed in these operations are commemorated by memorials at Vimy and Villers-Bretonneux. A separate memorial remembers those killed in the Battle of Cambrai in 1917. Both cemetery and memorial were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, with sculpture by Sir William Reid Dick. The memorial was unveiled by Lord Trenchard, Marshal of the Royal Air Force on the 31 July 1932 (originally it had been scheduled for 15 May, but due to the sudden death of French President Doumer, as a mark of respect, the ceremony was postponed until July).

This was the second loss that his mother had to endure as his brother Herbert was killed in action on the 07th October 1916 serving as Pte G/9621 of Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment.  Herbert now rests at Warlencourt British Cemetery, France. 

The Soldiers Effects and Pensions of both Arthur and Herbert went to mother Eliza A. including a War Gratuity of £3 for Arthur and £4 for Herbert, …

The records show various addresses for their mother: 169 St. Augustine Road, Southsea, 14 Fawcett Road, Southsea, Lower Clapton Road, London in 1919, and in 1923 40 Renny Road, Fratton, Portsmouth.

Arthur and Herbert are both commemorated on the City of Portsmouth Memorial.

Their mother died in 1944, aged 75.

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