Gunner 61326 Arthur Popple

Died Home on Sunday, 14th March 1920, age 28.
Buried in Grave NG. L. South. at West Bromwich (St. Peter's) Churchyard , Greets Green, West Bromwich.

Royal Garrison Artillery, 120th Siege Battery.

Brother of Mr Harry Popple, of 112 Bridge Road, Toll End, Tipton, Staffs.
Born: West Bromwich, Enlisted: Birmingham, Resident: Tipton.

First landed France & Flanders,15th July 1916.
Medal entitlement: British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives survived and transcribed.

Not commemorated on any Tipton memorial.
Commemorated here because resident in Tipton.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/395631/

Genealogical Data

Birth of Arthur Popple registered September quarter 1891 in West Bromwich.

1901 Census
45 Slater Street, Greets Green, West Bromwich, Staffs.
John Popple (47, Metal Caster, born Kings Norton), his wife Ruth (50, born New Town, West Bromwich), and their 3 children: Minnie (18, Self-Employed Dressmaker, born New Town, West Bromwich), Fred (16, Warehouseman born New Town, West Bromwich), and Arthur (9, born New Town, West Bromwich).

1911 Census
45 Slater Street, Great Bridge, Tipton, Staffs.
John Popple (57, General Labourer, born Kings Norton), his wife Ruth (60, born Newtown, West Bromwich), and 1 of their 4 surviving children of 5: Arthur (19, Timekeeper in Glass Works, born Newtown, West Bromwich).

Personal Data

Arthur Popple enlisted with the Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA) on 28th October 1915 in Suffolk Street, Birmingham. He was unmarried, 24 years and 2 months old, 5 feet 9½ inches tall with a 36-inch chest, and employed as a Foreman in a Glass Works. His next of kin was his father, John Popple of 45 Slater Street; Arthur’s own address was given as 43 Slater Street, Great Bridge, Tipton.

Arthur began his training on 1st November 1915 at RGA No.2 Depot (Heavy and Siege) at Fort Brockhurst at Gosport in Hampshire. From here he was posted to 34 Company, RGA on 10th November, this was a Southern Coast Defences unit based at Culver (Sandown) on the Isle of Wight.

On 1st April 1916, Arthur was posted to the 120th (Siege) Battery which was being trained in preparation for their arrival on the Western Front. Both the 120th (Siege) Battery and Arthur landed in Boulogne on 15th July 1916, moving initially to the south of Arras, and then by late July 1916 to Caterpillar Wood, near Mametz on the Somme.

Arthur was posted back to No.2 Depot on 17th August 1916, probably evacuated from France back to England suffering from neurasthenia (shell shock). The 120th (Siege) Battery had suffered badly from enemy shelling during early August, particularly on the 5th August when the men were ordered to ‘scatter’ to avoid further casualties.

Arthur was discharged on 24th May 1917 due to “Shell Shock, caused by Active Service.” He was given a pension from that date of £1/7/6d per week (1 pound, 7 shillings and 6 pence) which was to be for a period, initially’ of 26 weeks. His Pension Card gives his disabilities of (1) neurasthenia and (2) Pulmonary Tuberculosis. His address was to be noted as 28 Tildasley Street, West Bromwich.

Action resulting in his death

Arthur had been discharged on 24th May 1917, his Pension Card gave his disabilities of (1) neurasthenia (Shell Shock) and (2) Pulmonary Tuberculosis. Arthur died on 14th March 1920. Neurasthenia, whilst debilitating, does not in itself casuse death, so it can be assumed that the Pulmonary Tuberculosis was the most likely cause of death. This was accepted as being due to or aggravated by active service as Arthur has a Commonwealth War Graves Headstone at his grave in St. Peter's Churchyard, Greets Green.

A Dependant appears to have made a claim for a pension after Arthur's death; this was refused.

Newspaper Cuttings

None.