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TF/241673 1st/8th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment
Arthur Elmer was born in 1896 in Little Cornard, Suffolk, one of twelve children of Charles Edward and Alice Sarah Elmer. His father was a carman and the family lived in Cats Lane, Great Cornard before later moving to 6 Gregory Street in Sudbury. Arthur attended St. Gregory and St. Peter’s School, by the age of fourteen he was employed as labourer in a local brickyard.
Arthur was living at 11 Girling Street when he enlisted on 4 March 1916 in Bury St. Edmunds to serve with the Middlesex Regiment (formerly 6154). His service record describes him as 5ft 5 ins in height with a 34 inch chest.
He landed in France with his battalion on 31 August 1916. His battalion formed part of 167th Brigade, 56th (London) Division). Arthur would have joined his battalion during the Battle of the Somme as the battalion saw action during September in the battles of Ginchy, Flers-Courcelette and Morval where they captured Combles.
In 1917 the battalion saw action at the Battle of Arras (9 April – 16 May) before moving to Belgium and the Ypres Salient. On 16 August the battalion saw action during the second phase of the Third Battle of Ypres (also known as the Battle of Passchendaele) at Langemarck (16 – 18 August). They fought in what had become a quagmire due to the unseasonal heavy rain and the heavy British bombardment which had destroyed the area drainage and against well constructed German bunkers and machine guns. There were enormous casualties on both sides.
Arthur was killed in action on 16 August 1917. There is no known grave and he is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial, near Ypres, Belgium. A Cross of Remembrance was laid at the Tyne Cot Memorial in April 2006 and April 2009
Arthur was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal. He is also remembered on Little Cornard War Memorial
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