Arthur was born in 1889 at Lower Kirkby, Essex; his birth registered at Tendring in the March quarter of that year.  He appears on the 1891 census living with his family at Lane End, Kirkby.  The household comprised: John Whipp (head, married, aged 30, working as a labourer), his wife Eliza Whipp (aged 29) and four children: Eliza (aged eight), William John Whipp (aged six), Frederick Charles Whipp (aged four) and Arthur (aged two).  Also at the house were William Mann (a 26 year old lodger) and Louisa Carter (a 30 year old visitor).

By the time the 1901 census was taken, the family was still living at Kirkby but had moved to Lower Street.  John was now working as a farm bailiff.  I have been unable to find his sister Eliza and William had died aged 15 in 1899.  The other children are there though - Fred was working as a 15 year old under gardener while Arthur, aged 13, was presumably studying still as there is no occupation noted against his name.  There were also four more mouths to feed: Edith Alice Whipp (aged nine), Ethel Mary Whipp (aged seven), Nellie Ivy Whipp (aged four) and Winifred Rose Whipp (aged two and recorded as Rose on the census).  There were no lodgers or visitors at the house when the 1901 census was taken although the Mann family lived two doors away.  William Mann was not though, at the family home.

Arthur enlisted in the army on 9th December 1915, one day before the introduction of the Derby Scheme.  His army number falls within the batch of numbers allocated to the 6th Notts and Derbys so it would appear that he originally joined this battalion before being posted to the 2/7th.  This battalion formed part of the 178th Brigade in the 59th Division and Arthur was wounded on the opening day of the Battle of Polygon Wood on 26th September 1917.  The 59th Division was responsible for the capture of a long line of hostile strong points on both sides of the Wieltje-Gravenstafel Road. The battle officially ended seven days later on 3rd October.

Arthur Whipp was discharged as no longer physically fit for war service on 20th March 1919 aged 30 years.  He received the British War and Victory medals and a silver war badge.

Sources and Acknowledgements

·       The National Archives: Medal Index Card

·       The National Archives: British War and Victory Medal Roll: F/103 B33: Page 8108: WO 329/1404

·       The National Archives: Silver War Badge Roll: F/A/1090: WO 329/3057

·       The Long, Long Trail website