Friday, June 23, 2006

Remembering Arthur Tully

On this day, 23rd June 1918, Arthur Tully died of wounds. He was born at Ardingley, Sussex about 1897/98 and enlisted at Brighton, almost certainly under age. He was presumably working in Chailey as the parish magazine first notes him in July 1915 as serving his King and Country.

In October that year it notes that he is a private with the 3rd Royal Sussex Regiment in England and up until December 1917 he is still noted as serving with the 3rd Battalion. It seems likley that he was held back in England until he was old enough to serve abroad. He disappears from the parish magazine between January and August 1918, only to re-appear in the roll of honour in September 1918 as Pte A Tully, 7th Royal Sussex, died of wounds, June 23rd 1918 in France.

The National Archives and The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) note his army service number as LSR/2295 while Soldiers Died in The Great War (SD) records it as S/2296. SD also notes that he died of wounds while CWGC adds the aditional information that he was the brother of Mary Tully of 50, Hewins Cottage, Cooksbridge, nr Lewes, Sussex.

Arthur was 20 years old when he died and is buried at Varennes Military Cemetery, France, reference: III.1.5. Although born at Ardingley, his name does not appear on the war memorial there but he is commemorated on the memorial at Chailey.

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