Dvr/Gnr Arthur Robertshaw MM - L/25514, A/152 Brigade RFA, 34 Division

[Ivor Anderson]

Dvr/Gnr Arthur Robertshaw MM - L/25514, A/152 Brigade RFA, 34 Division

 

Born 12th March 1891, Huddersfield, West Riding, Yorkshire.

Parents - Charles Henry & Martha Anne Carter. Married 15 April 1882, St. John's Lepton.

                Charles from Dalton (father Henry a coachman).

Siblings: Older brothers Harry & Herbert, younger brother William. Sisters Gertrude, Marian & Beatrice.

1891 Census - 67 Grove Place, Dalton, Huddersfield

1901 Census - 67 Dyson Street, Dalton, Huddersfield 

1911 Census - 27 Lister Street, Moldgreen, Huddersfield

 

Enlisted at Huddersfield 10-05-1915, 5 feet 5.5 inches, weaver, from 38 Ravensknowle Road, Moldgreen, Dalton.

In France 11-01-1916 to 19-09-1918 (152 Brigade WD is on ancestry). Huddersfield Brigade.

 

152 Brigade were in action in 1916 at the Somme, Bazentin, Ridge, Pozieres Ridge. In 1917 they fought in the 1&2 Battles of the Scarpe and the Battle of Arleux during the Arras Offensive, and Broenbeek during 3rd Ypres in October 1917. 1918 Battles of St. Quentin and of Estaires, Bailleul & Kemmel Ridge.

 

MM LG 06-08-1918, Schedule no. 176521, A/152 Brigade RFA, 34 Division, Ribbon presented Belgium, 4th December 1918.

Award is likely to be for the German Spring offensive as 152 Brigade were in action on 21st to 24th March 1918 near St LEDGER & HENIN). Several officer casualties listed in WD. They were also in defensive action on 9th April near Estaires ( assembled at LE SART Church, then to Pt PETIT BOIS & to 'positions at Pt LEVIS BRIDGE, between the railway & the river to give harassing fire') when 2 officers and 11 OR were gassed. 

 

Furlough  20-09-1918 to 04-10-1918

France     05-10-1918 to 01-04-1919

Germany  02-04-1919 to 24-04-1919

 

Married Elsie Shaw (b.06-06-1895) on 6th August 1927, St Paul’s Church, Huddersfield. Then living 174 Victoria Road, Lockwood.

1939 Census - Plush textile weaver, 69 Hall Cross Road, Huddersfield

Buried: 28 August 1952 - aged 61, Moldgreen, Huddersfield

Edited 2 October , 2020 by Ivor Anderson
Additional information

[Ivor Anderson]

Deaths among 152 Brigade RFA in March-April 1918:

21 March 1918   Major Henry Archer Johnstone

                        Gunner Christopher Lewis 8308, C Bty,

                        Gunner Ezekiel Atkins 750765 A Battery,

                        Sgt. Ernest Henry Freeman L/11332, C Bty,

                        A/Bdr. Arthur Whitemore L/8037, A Battery, 

24 March 1918 Lt. George Berry Milligan B Battery

31 March 1918 Sgt. William Jackson 7491 A Battery

09 April 1918   Gunner George Egbert Hallam 11371, B Bty,

11 April 1918   Shoeing Smith Corporal Herbert Atkin L/8023, B Bty,

                        Driver Robert Joseph Watson 640447, D Bty,

13 April 1918   Gunner William Henry Jempson 168846, D Bty,

                        Gunner Arthur Perry 745759, C Bty, Died of Wounds, no. 2 General Hospital.

                        Gunner Thomas Robinson 715425, D Bty, Died of Wounds

14 April 1918   Gunner James Norman 91034, D Bty, Died of Wounds.

25 April 1918   Gunner Joseph Beckett 77504, A Battery, died of wounds at 30 General Hospital France.

 

Major Henry Archer Johnstone of 152 Bde RFA was listed in the war diary as killed on 21 March 1918.

He is buried in E5 in Wancourt British Cemetery along with 2 gunners from C152. Source CWGC:

 

Edited 30 May , 2021 by Ivor Anderson
Additional information

[Ivor Anderson]

Arthur Robertshaw's MM inscription - no. L-25514:

 

Edited 23 June , 2020 by Ivor Anderson

[Ivor Anderson]

MM Index Card for Arthur Robertshaw L-25514 - Schedule no. 176521

 

[Ivor Anderson]

The 152nd Bde RFA war diary for 21st March 1918 (source TNA). 'A' Battery had casualties on this first day of the German Spring Offensive: