Arthur Dominic

Arthur was the eldest son of Jonas Dominic. Arthur and his three siblings, Beatrice, Edith and Walter, were born in Nottingham: Beatrice b. 1884 (J/A/S Nottingham, surname Dominick), Edith b. 28 June 1886 (J/A/S Nottingham), Arthur birth registered 1888 (J/F/M Nottingham) and Walter b. 1890 (O/N/D Nottingham). The three oldest children, Beatrice, Edith and Arthur, were all baptised on 23 October 1889 at St Michael's parish church, Radford. Their parents were named as Jonas and Jane Dominic and the family lived at 223 Alfreton Road, Radford. The family has not yet been traced on the 1891 Census but Jonas Dominic was listed on the 1901 Census at 2 Bismark Square, Nottingham. Jonas, whose age was given on the census as 42, was working as a gas pipe layer. All four children were living at home: Beatrice (17) a leather tanner, Edith (15), Arthur (12) and Walter (9). Jane Dominic has not been traced on the 1901 or subsequent census nor has the marriage to Jonas Dominic yet been traced. However, there is a record of a Jonas Saint Paul Dominic (also Dominick), the son of Andrew and Ann Dominic, born in Sherwood, Nottingham, in 1853 (A/M/J Basford) who married Sarah Bednall on 13 April 1879 (A/M/J Nottingham) at All Saints church, Nottingham. In 1881, two years after their marriage, Jonas (27) a lace maker, was recorded on the census at 31 Vicarage Street, Nottingham, with his parents and his wife Sarah, a cotton winder, was living with her parents, William and Mary Bednall, at 16 Hague Street, Nottingham. In 1901 Sarah, who was still working as a cotton winder, was using her maiden name Bednall and living with her widowed mother. Although there is a discrepancy between Jonas Saint Paul Dominic's year of birth and the age of Jonas Dominic on the 1901 Census, no other person of this name has been found in civil records for Nottinghamshire. Neither Jonas nor Jane have yet been traced on the 1911 Census, although their children have been identified. Beatrice had married Frederick Arthur Parker in 1907 (J/A/S Nottingam) and in 1911 they were living at 21 Denton (?Denman) Street, Nottingham, with their son Frederick Leslie (b. 4 November 1910, O/N/D Nottingham), another child had died in infancy or early childhood. Frederick was a carriage brusher, employed by a lace maker. Also in the household was her brother Arthur (23), a labourer for a lace machine maker. Arthur had enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery in 1906 on a 12 year engagement - 3 years regular service, 9 years Reserve - so had been discharged from the army some years previously. Edith had married Arthur Withers in 1911 (J/F/M Nottingham) and in 1911 was recorded in the household of her widowed mother-in-law, Georgiana Withers (49) a charwoman. Edith was working as a leather maker. Her husband Arthur was not in the home on the night of the census. Walter had joined the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and in 1911, when he was 21 years old, was serving with the 1st Battalion in Hong Kong. Arthur married Ellen Straw in 1911 (O/N/D Nottingham) and they had a daughter, Doris, in 1913 (A/M/J Nottingham). Ellen probably never remarried; there is a record of the death of an Ellen Dominic in 1934 (O/N/D Nottingham) aged 48. Of Arthur's siblings: Beatrice and her husband Frederick Parker may have had four more children: Walter b. 1912, Albert b. 1917, Joan b. 1921 (d. 1922) and Arthur b. 1922. Beatrice died in 1939 (J/A/S Nottingham); her husband Frederick (b. 28 May 1882) was recorded on the 1939 England & Wales Register living at 71 Denman Street, Nottingham. Edith and her husband Arthur Withers (b. 22 February 1887) had two children: Dorothy b. 1918 (O/N/D Nottingham) and Arthur b. 26 May 1921 (A/M/J Nottingham). It is likely that in 1939 they were living at Bushcombe Farm, Bushcombe Lane, Woodmancote, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, with their son Arthur. Edith died in 1969 (J/A/S Cheltenham) aged 83 (record gives DOB 28 July 1886). Walter served in the war (9472 Private, KOYLI) and was killed in action on 8 May 1915 (date probably not confirmed until the following year); he was buried in Sanctuary Wood Cemetery. A local paper published a photograph of Walter in February 1916 and gave his address as 26 Lace Street, Dunkirk, Nottingham. See record on this ROH. Jonas Dominic probably died in 1918 (O/N/D Nottingham), buried 13 December 1918.

He was a bleacher when he attested in 1906. In 1911 he was a labourer.

'A Bty 94th Bde Arthur attested on 19 March 1906 on a Short Service Engagement (12 years: 3 years regular service and 9 years Reserve). He was 18 years 11 months old. He joined the 14th Battery Royal Horse and Field Artillery at Seaforth on 20 March 1906 (42379). He had been discharged from the army by 1911 but as a reservist was mobilised in August 1914 on the outbreak of war. Arthur served in France from 19 August 1914. On 5 April 1916 he was admitted to 18 General Hospital suffering from influenza and discharged on 13 April, 'convalescent, depot'. On 17 April 1916 he joined 2 General Base Depot, left on 20 April and joined 94th Bde RFA on 23 April 1916. He was awarded leave to England 26 January 1917-5 February 1917 and 15 days RA (leave) in the UK 'via Havre' from 16 February 1918 to 3 March 1918. Arthur was killed three weeks after his return from leave. He was buried in Peronne Communal Cemetery Extension (Grave Reference: 4 D 7). He qualified for the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

His widow, Ellen, was awarded a pension of 20 shillings and 5 pence for herself and her child with effect from 21 October 1918. Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Ellen was Arthur's sole legatee. Arthur's brother Walter was killed in 1915. Arthur's widow, Ellen Dominic, was awarded a small payment in 1919 as one of Walter's legatees.