Arthur John Cattle arrived in Chelmsford from Somerset as a child and worked in the grocery trade. He joined the army early in the war, served in France, but developed pneumonia, from which he died in hospital in November 1915. His home was in Springfield Road. A brother also also lost his life during the war.
CATTLE, ARTHUR JOHN,
Corporal, No. 2 Advanced H.T. Depot, Army Service Corps
Arthur is commemorated on the Civic Centre Memorial, Chelmsford, on the Springfield Parish Memorial at All Saints’ Church and by the Chelmsford Parish Great War Memorial in Chelmsford Cathedral. His brother Alfred William Cattle died on 13th August 1921 and is also commemorated on the Civic Centre Memorial, Chelmsford and by the Chelmsford Parish Great War Memorial in Chelmsford Cathedral.
Arthur was entitled to the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and Victory Medal.
The 1918 register of electors recorded Arthur’s parents at 38 Springfield Road, Springfield (today’s number 144, which is pictured left). Arthur’s father, Arthur Charles Cattle, died on 29th July 1922 aged 61 and his mother Maria Jane Cattle died on 3rd June 1928 aged 70. Both are buried at Holy Trinity Church in Springfield.
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Arthur was born at Bruton in Somerset in 1889, the son of the tailor Arthur Charles and Maria Jane Cattle. The couple had married the previous year in Somerset.
Arthur’s siblings were Lionel Charles Cattle (born in 1890 in Chelmsford, died 1964). Helen Mary Cattle (born on 25th September 1893 in Chelmsford and christened at Springfield Holy Trinity Church on 20th December 1893, died 1987). Alan Frederick Cattle (born on 19th May 1897 in Chelmsford, died 1968), Alfred William Cattle (born in Chelmsford 12th April 1899, died 1921), and Gertrude Madge Cattle (born on 16th January 1901 in Chelmsford and christened at Springfield Holy Trinity Church on 15th May 1901 along with Alfred and Allen).
Arthur was recorded in the 1891 census aged two, living in Grove Road, Chelmsford with his parents and one year-old brother Lionel. His father was a 30 year-old Tailor’s Cutter from Langport, Somerset and his mother was aged 33 (also born at Bruton, Somerset). Lionel had been born in Chelmsford, so presumably the family had come to the town in 1889 or 1890.
The 1901 census found Arthur resident with his family at 1 Garfield Terrace (part of today’s Springfield Road) in Springfield. He was 12 years-old. He was accompanied by his father (a 40 year-old tailor’s cutter), his mother (aged 43), and five younger siblings, all Chelmsford-born – Lionel Charles Cattle (aged 11). Helen Mary Cattle (aged 7). Allen Frederick Cattle (aged 3), Alfred William Cattle (aged one) and Gertrude Madge Cattle (aged two months).
A decade later the 1911 census listed 22 year-old Arthur boarding with Mary Bayfield at Normanton, South View, Farnham in Surrey. Arthur was a merchant’s clerk for a provision dealers.
Arthur subsequently lived back in Chelmsford, enlisted at Aldershot and landed in France on 13th August 1915.
He died in Cambridge Military Hospital from pneumonia on 25th November 1915 while serving as Driver SI/1022 in No. 2 Advanced H.T. Depot of the Army Service Corps. He was 26. He was buried at Springfield (Holy Trinity) Churchyard, a matter of yards from his home.
On 3rd December 1915 the Essex Weekly News reported:
“Soldier’s Death and Funeral. - The death of Corporal Arthur John Cattle, A.S.C., aged 20,
son of Mr. A. C. Cattle, of Chelmsford, took place at Cambridge Military Hospital on November 25. Deceased joined the A.S.C. soon after the outbreak of the war, and had served with his unit in France. He caught a severe chill, which developed into pneumonia, this being the cause of death. Deceased in civil life was in the grocery trade, and a former assistant to Messrs. F. Luckin Smith and Co. at Chelmsford. He was interested in football and cricket, formerly playing for the Chelmsford Swifts and Chelmsford Wednesday Clubs. - The funeral took place on Monday at Holy Trinity, Springfield, the Rector, Rev. F. S. Paynter, officiating. The chief mourners were Mr. A. C. Cattle, father; Gunner Lionel Cattle, Essex R.H.A., and Mr. Alan Cattle, brothers; the Misses Nellie and Madge Cattle, sisters. Floral tributes were received from the relatives and ‘old friends’ at Messrs. Luckin Smith’s.”
