Arthur Cecil was born in St Saviours parish, Meadows, Nottingham, the son of Arthur and Edith Annie Shrewsbury (née Winterbottom).
His father Arthur was born in Nottingham in 1874, the son of William, a lace maker, and Emma Shrewsbury (née Walker). In 1881 William, Emma and their sons Arthur (6) and William (1), were living in New Yard, Nottingham (parish of St Mary), lodgers in the household of Milindy Walker (49) a widow with three children in the home.
His mother Edith Annie was born in Leabrooks, Derbyshire, in 1874, the daughter of George and Sarah Winterbottom; she was baptised at Riddings parish church on 12 July 1874. In 1881 Edith and her widowed father, a stationary engine driver, were living in Riddings.
Arthur and Edith were married in 1894 (reg. Nottingham) and had four children, all born in Nottingham, one of whom sadly died in infancy: Arthur Cecil b. 1896, Doris Louie b. 23 August 1897, Edith Phyllis b. 1899 (J/A/S) d. 1899 (J/A/S) and William Leslie b. 19 May 1903.
In the 1901 census the family was living at 54 Kirkby Street, Meadows: Arthur (26) a cricket bat maker (sports manufacturer), Edith (26), Arthur (4) and Doris (3).
The family was still living at 54 Kirkby Street in 1911. Only Arthur Cecil, a clerk with an assurance company, and William (7) were in the home with their parents on the night of the census. Their daughter Doris has not yet been traced on the census.
When Arthur attested three years later in 1914 he named his parents and brother William, all of 54 Kirkby Street, as his next of kin.
Edith Annie died aged 42 at 30 Kirkby Street, Meadows, on 13 May 1916. The following year Arthur snr., now living at 28 Kirkby Street, died of a malignant tumour on 6 October aged 43. Arthur Cecil was home on leave in October 1917, presumably having been granted compassionate leave, and was named on the death certificate as being present at his father's death and the informant.
Doris Louie completed Army Form 5080 on 9 July 1919 giving details of her late brother's surviving blood relatives: William Leslie and Doris Louie both of 28 Kirkby Street, Nottingham.
Doris married Albert E Carnelley (b. 14 July 1897) in 1921 and they had at least three children: Irene L. b. 24 March 1922, Reginald Frederick b. 5 September 1925 and Doris M. b. 1927. In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled, Albert, a school caretaker, and Doris were living on Kinglake Street, Meadows, with their children Irene and Ronald and Albert's widowed father, Frederick Carnelley (b. 1864), a retired engine fitter. The record of another member of the household remains closed but was probably that of their third child, Doris. Doris Louie died in November 1970.
William Leslie married Ann Blood (b. 14 May 1909) in 1938. In 1939 they were living on Grainger Street, Meadows; William was a chemist's porter and Ann a café room maid. William died on 6 May 1977.