Myatt, Arthur 1917

Arthur Foster William Myatt MM. Died 3rd Dec 1917

Arthur was born in 1893 in Walworth, London to father William and mother Ellen (nee Popejoy). He was the first born and had only one brother. The small family (for the time) was because father William had died in 1897, aged 37 years old. By the age of 17, Arthur had become a student teacher and was working for the council. His Mother and her brother William (also a widower) lived at ‘Hollyhocks’, Howard Road, Wokingham in 1911 and throughout the war.

He had joined the London Regiment, 15th Battalion and was killed on the 3rd December 1917. Due to the place of his burial, we believe Arthur died from his wounds or an illness in hospital.

Jim Bell’s research from the Reading Mercury uncovers the reason for Arthur’s Military medal:

“LOCAL SCHOOLMASTER WINS MILITARY MEDAL. Lance-Corporal Arthur Myatt, City of London Regiment, Civil Service Rifles, has just been awarded the Military Medal for an act of great gallantry. On a night in June his company was holding a front trench. On being relieved Lance-Corporal Myatt and his chum were the only fit men left. All night, with their Lewis gun, they held off the enemy, beside attending to the wounded. Mr. Myatt is a well-known local schoolmaster, and was educated at Palmer School and Culham College’.

Sat 8th Dec KILLED IN ACTION. The Mercury later reports his reports his death:

‘Lance-Corpl. Arthur Myatt, the eldest son of Mrs. Myatt, of Howard Road, Wokingham, has been killed in action. He was very well known in Wokingham. He was a scholar at the Palmer School, winning a scholarship, and later becoming a teacher there. He was awarded the Military Medal and made lance-corporal a short time ago, was home on leave three weeks since, and was 21’.

Click here for a photo of Arthur

Name: MYATT, ARTHUR FOSTER WILLIAM
Rank: Lance Corporal
Regiment/Service: London Regiment (Prince of Wales’ Own Civil Service Rifles) Unit Text: 15th Battalion.
Age:24
Date of Death: 03/12/1917
Service No:532791
Awards: M M
Additional information: Son of Ellen Myatt, of “Hollyhocks,” Howard Rd., Wokingham, and the late William Myatt.
Grave/Memorial Reference: P. VI. C. 7A.Cemetery:ST. SEVER CEMETERY EXTENSION, ROUEN. During the First World War, Commonwealth camps and hospitals were stationed on the southern outskirts of Rouen. A base supply depot and the 3rd Echelon of General Headquarters were also established in the city. Almost all of the hospitals at Rouen remained there for practically the whole of the war. They included eight general, five stationary, one British Red Cross and one labour hospital, and No. 2 Convalescent Depot. A number of the dead from these hospitals were buried in other cemeteries, but the great majority were taken to the city cemetery of St. Sever. In September 1916, it was found necessary to begin an extension, where the last burial took place in April 1920.

“Hollyhocks,” Howard Rd, Wokingham

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