Private Arthur Taylor

Regimental No; 32101
10th Battalion
Durham Light Infantry

Killed in action September 16.th 1916.
Remembered with Honour at,
Thiepual Memorial
St Andrews Church -Dalton le Dale
Murton Cenotaph

Born 1894, Arthur lived with his parents Thomas Weddle and Jane , together with three brothers and one sister at 42 Adolphus Street, Seaham Harbour. In 1911 Arthur was an apprentice blacksmith at a general Engineering works in Seaham Harbour, Arthur’s father was a coal trimmer employed at Seaham Docks.

On the 20th October 1915 he married Emily Annie and they were living at Burnside, Dalton le Dale. Arthur was employed as a cartman and on May 1 st 1916, he enlisted at Seaham Harbour in the 10th Battalion Durham Light Infantry.

The Battalion, Durham Light Infantry was raised at Newcastle on August 22nd 1914 as part of Kitchener’s First New Army and joined 43rd Brigade / 14th Light Division. They proceeded to France on the 21st of May 1915 landing at Boulogne. They fought in the Action of Hooge, being the first division to be attacked by flamethrowers. They were again in action in the Second Attack on Bellewarde. In 1916 they saw action at the Somme, Delville Wood and Flers-Courcelette.

The Battle of Flers-Courcette 15th to 22nd Sept 1916 was probably where Arthur Taylor fell. It is best known as the first Tank battle in history as it featured 49 MK 1 tanks. The attack was preceded by a massive artillery bombardment, at Flers-Courcelette there was 1 field gun every 10yards and one heavy gun every 29yards.