Arthur enlisted in the East Lancashire Regiment (No 37395) on 10 Dec 1915 but was placed in the Army Reserve , Class B, on 19 Apr 1916. His recruitment medical gives his height at 5 feet 1 1/4 inches and his weight as a very slight 95 lbs (43kg, less than 7 stone). He also suffered from a deformed right foot, a paralysis that he'd had since childhood, and short-sightedness. This likely meant that he would not be sent overseas, but held in reserve at home.
Arthur was mobilised on 13 Feb 1917 - his medical shows that he had gained some weight - and posted on 15 Feb 1917 as a Labourer (G36) to 495th (HS) Empy Coy. He was still living with his parents at 14 St Annes Street.
There is no record of where he worked during his service. He was discharged from the Labour Corps (no. 261672) on 27 Apr 1919 to the Class Z Reserve, claiming that he had a deformed leg leg and deafness caused by his service, but this claim was rejected.
There are three possible marriages for Arthur, of which Florence is most likely the most likely:
- Rose GARLICK in 1918 - b 13 Nov 1890, widowed with one child, living with Kathleen HOOLE b. 28 Dec 17 (and her child) in Lancaster
- Florence WALSH in 1920 - b 14 Apr 1898, widowed in 1939 Register with daughter Clara
- Elizabeth LANG in 1920 - Arthur is wrong age in 1939
Arthur died in September 1939, shortly before the 1939 Register was taken on 29 Sep 1939 when Florence is listed as a widow.
