Arthur Caunt

Arthur was born in 1884 in Sneinton and was the son of George a painter and Emma Caunt née Hind of 53 Walker Street Sneinton Nottingham. His father George was born in 1843 in Radcliffe on Trent and his mother Emma Hind was born in 1853 in Nottingham, they were married in 1871 in Nottingham and went on to have 13 children two of whom died in infancy or early childhood, their surviving children, all born in Sneinton were ; Jane b1871, Samuel b1872, Marie b1875, George b1878, Robert b1880, William b1883, Arthur b1884, Henry b1886, Helen b1888, Theresa b1890 and Albert b1895. In the 1911 census the family are living at 53 Walker Street, Sneinton, and are shown as George 68 yrs a painter, he is living with his wife Emma 58 yrs and two of their children, Ellen 24 yrs a lace hand and Albert 16 yrs a dray lad, also living with them are three grandchildren, Ida Caunt 1 yrs old and Alice Spridgen 12 yrs and Albert Spridgen 6 yrs. Arthur married his wife Selina Murden in 1907 in Nottingham they had three children, Evelyn b1909, Arthur b1910 and Lucy b1912 they were all born in Nottingham. In the 1911 census the family are living at 52 Windemere Road, Hyson Green, Nottingham and are shown as Arthur 26 yrs a joiner, he is living with his wife Lina (Selina ) 25 yrs and their two children Eveline 2 yrs and Arthur 1 years old. The families last known address was 14 Shirley Terrace, Kirkstead Road, Hyson Green, Nottingham.

Before the war he was a joiner by trade and worked for a funeral director at Canning Circus, Nottingham

Radford Nottingham

Private Arthur Caunt, enlisted at Nottingham and served with the 2nd Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment. He landed in France on 8th September 1914 and after service on the Aisne (20th September 1914), was taken prisoner on 20th October 1914 at Ennentieres. He died as a German prisoner of war of appendicitis – “Blinddarmentzündung” as shown in Red Cross records – in the camp at Hameln Weser on 6th January 1915. He was buried in Niederzwehren Cemetery, Kassel. Germany (grave ref. X.F.16).

Four brothers also served during the war: Frederick (killed in action 27/10/1916), William (discharged wounded 18/1/1915), Henry (killed in action 20/10/1914), Albert (still serving with the Sherwood Foresters in 1921). 'In memoriam' notice published 23rd March 1915 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “CAUNT. – Died in Hameln Weser, as prisoner of war, Private A. Caunt, 2nd Sherwood Foresters, the beloved husband of Lina Caunt, late of Forest Fields. Deeply mourned.” 'In memoriam' notices published 6th January 1916 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “CAUNT. – In loving memory of my dear husband, Pte. Arthur Caunt, 2nd Sherwood Foresters, died in Germany, January 6th, 1915. Sleep on, dear one, and take thy rest, we know you tried to do your best; on earth there's strife, in Heaven there's rest, we miss you most who loved you best. – From wife and children. “CAUNT. – In loving memory of our dear son, Private Arthur Caunt, who died in Germany January 6th, 1915. – From father, mother, brothers, and sisters.” His father George Caunt died on 22nd February 1919. An old solder, he enlisted in the 22nd Regiment of Foot (Cheshire Regiment) in Nottingham on 25th August 1865. He was buried with military honours in Nottingham General Cemetery. Notice of George's death published 27th February 1919 in the Nottingham Evening Post. :- “CAUNT. – On 22nd inst., at 12 Hampton-terrace, Walker-street, George, the beloved husband of Emma Caunt, passed away. Peace after pain. Service at St. Alban's 2 o'clock; General Cemetery, Derby-road, 2.30, Saturday. [4th March 1919] Military funeral.” Article published 16th April 1915 in the Nottingham Evening Post reads :- “SEVEN SOLDIER SONS. “SNEINTON FAMILY’S FINE RECORD. “Mr. George Caunt, of 11, Hampton-terrace, Walker-street, Sneinton, has seven sons, a grandson, and two sons-in-law who have either served or are at present serving in the army. “The father enlisted in 1859 and completed eleven years’ service. “Six of the sons belonged to the first or second Battalion Sherwood Foresters, George, [1] who served for 16 years, and Robert [2] 18 years’ service, both bring wounded in South Africa. William, [3] who returned from India with the 1st Sherwood Foresters, was wounded in France, whilst Harry [4] was killed at the front in October last. Frederick [5] was wounded, and has returned to France, and Arthur [6] taken a prisoner of war and died in Germany. Albert, [7] the remaining son, has joined the 9th (Service) Battalion Sherwood Foresters. “The grandson (George Boultby) [8] in the A.S.C., whilst the sons-in-law (Horace Radford and Albert Gimson) [9] have enlisted in the R.F.A. and the Robin Hood Reserve Battalion respectively.” [10] [1] Pte. George Caunt served with 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters in South Africa. He was reported missing on 4th November 1900 – rejoined – and was wounded at Vlakfontein on 29th May 1901. He was awarded the Queen's South Africa medal with bars 'Johannesburg', 'Diamond Hill', 'Cape Colony' and 'Orange Free State' and the King's South Africa Medal with bars 'South Africa 1901' and 'South Africa 1902'. He was discharged on 6th January 1910. [2] No record of a Robert Caunt as having been wounded in South Africa. His service record show him to have joined 4th Battalion Derbyshire Regiment in 1897 but it provides no details of service in South Africa. [3] Pte. William Caunt, 1st Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment, landed in France on 4th November 1914. His medal index card shows that he transferred to the Royal Army Medical Corps. According to his entry on the Silver War Badge roll, he was discharged from the Sherwood Foresters on 29th May 1917 “on termination of engagement” aged 41 years and six months. [4] L/Cpl. Harry Caunt, 2nd Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment, was killed in action on 20th October 1914. He is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial. [5] L/Cpl. Frederick Caunt, 1st Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment, landed in France on 4th November 1914. He was killed in action on 27th October 1916 and is buried in Beacon Cemetery, Sailly-Laurette. [6] Pte. Arthur Caunt, 2nd Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment, landed in France on 8th September 1914. He was taken prisoner on 20th October 1914 and died of wounds in German hands on 6th January 1915. He is buried in Niederzwehren Cemetery, Kassel. [7] Pte. Albert Caunt landed in France on 27th August 1915 as a member of the 11th Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment. He later served with the 1st Battalion. [8] Pte. George Boultby landed in France with the Army Service Corps on 14th July 1915. He transferred to the Labour Corps. [9] Cpl. Albert Gimson, 2/7th Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment (Robin Hood Rifles). All above notices and newspaper articles are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918