Other Information:Arthur was educated at Colet Court and at St Paul's School, gaining two scholarships. He captained the school swimming to two years and was also captain of the gymnasium, winning the school sports challenge cup and sharing the Public Schools Championship Shield for gymnastics at Aldershot. With a leaving exhibition in Science he entered St Mary's Hospital in 1908, and obtained honours in anatomy. After qualifying, Arthur held the posts of ophthalmic assistant, resident obstetric officer, house surgeon, and house physician. He resigned when war was declared and took a temporary commission in the R.A.M.C. at the rank of temporary Lieutenant on 10th August 1914. He entered the war in France on 17th August. After being in service a few weeks in France, Arthur volunteered to serve with a regiment and was appointed Medical Officer with the 4th Bn. Middlesex Regiment. He was promoted to temporary Captain after a years service.
Arthur was killed by a shot in the head whilst going to the aid of a wounded man. The Rev. R Crisford, C.E. Chaplain wrote: “There has been an attack made by or brigade lately and while Arthur was going to attend to a wounded man he was shot through the head and killed instantly. I can’t tell you how grieved we all are at this loss, and I hope you will allow me to sympathize with you, as I have known and loved Arthur for many years. We were at boys camp together at Studland before he left St. Paul’s School and several times since then. Arthur had won his way into the hearts of both officers and men in the regiment, and all who have spoken of him have testified to their admiration for him...... I buried him at 2.15 yesterday at Brandhoek (Between Ypres and Poperinghe), and though the battalion was in the trenches, there was a large attendance of transport men, and also doctors and orderlies from the Field Ambulance. It was a most impressive service. He was carried from the dressing station to the cemetery on the shoulders of Middlesex Sergeants, led by the drum and fife band playing the ‘Dead March’ from ‘Saul’.”
The A.D.M.S., Col Whaite wrote to his father stating "I feel your son's loss very much. I had seen a good deal of him and his work, and I looked upon him as one of my best officers. He never spared himself, and it was most unfortunate that he should have been killed by a stray bullet after he had passed unscathed through the big fight of the day before."
Capt Farrow, of the 4th Bn. Middlesex Regiment, also wrote: “After being together for a year I feel I have lost a great friend and a dear comrade. He was one of the most beloved officers in the 4th Middlesex Regiment, and was always ready to assist anyone. Nothing was too much trouble to him in looking after the health of the men.... I have seen him after tea deal with 200 men against enteric fever. I have never met a doctor who had his work so much at heart, and who was so much loved in the battalion. A braver soldier never entered this battlefield. He carried out his work without any fear, and though he has had many narrow escapes and terribly hard times in is dug-out, nothing ever upset him.”
A hospital contemporary wrote: "Quiet and reserved in manner, he was extremely popular amongst a very large circle of friends, and it is no idle boast to say that under this reserve was a sincere consciousness of his own limitations and abilities. He took a keen interest in boys' work, and was one of the founders of the Pauline Mission amongst the working class of the boys at King's Cross. To them he was a type of true manhood, for amongst his many qualities he attracted them by his skill in athletics. Of his work in France there are records showing that he never spared himself if it were possible to render aid or alleviate sufferings. One of his late stretcher-bearers, writing to a friend for news concerning him said "He was the bravest soldier ever seen on a battlefield, and there was sincere admiration for the gallant devotion with which he tended the wounded in all ranks of our regiment." There are many now who owe their lives to him, for his self-confidence and skill enabled him to attempt dangerous surgical work in the most difficult surroundings." Arthur was the elder son of Joseph Ernest (M.D.) and Ada Eliza Bullock (daughter of Capt J J Greathead R.N.) of 86 West Hill, St. Leonards-on-Sea.
|