PRIVATE ARTHUR FREDERICK MANN

[padrenick]

Another Death Plaque in my possession and once again hoping this man's service will be of service to others. Padre Nick 

MANN, ARTHUR FREDERICK  Northumberland Fusiliers

Rank: Private

Service No: 37036

Date of Death: 15/06/1918 Age: 20 Killed in Action

Regiment/Service: Northumberland Fusiliers 1st bn.

Grave Reference II. H. 8.Cemetery SANDPITS BRITISH CEMETERY, FOUQUEREUIL

Additional Information:

Son of Frederick and Maria Mann, of Sedgeford, Norfolk.

Has a will registered

Awarded all three medals

H e was the son of Frederick and Maria Mann, formerly of Sedgeford. He was serving with 1st Battalion, The Northumberland Fusiliers (Private 37036) when he died on 15th June 1918, aged 20 years. He is buried in Sandpits British Cemetery at Labeuvriere, Pas de Calais, northern France, which is between Bethune and Bruay la Buissiere. This cemetery was used by British XIII Corps in consequence of an advance by the German army which threatened Bethune.

 

[Matlock1418]

44 minutes ago, padrenick said:

Maria Mann

From WFA/Fold3 pension cards - his mother recieved a dependant's 5/- pw Articale 21(1c) pension from 6.11.18 - her 1919 address was given as Nr. Plough Inn, Docking, King's Lynn

M

Edited 28 December , 2021 by Matlock1418
dated her address

[padrenick]

Thanks for that 

[sotonmate]

Medal Roll shows first unit served in a war zone was 2nd Northants (32357), later served both 16th and 1st NF (37036).

[PRC]

My notes on men from Sedgeford are still at a basic level – particularly in Arthurs’ case as he is not on the village war memorial. But for what it’s worth here’s what I have on him so far.

Soldiers Died in the Great War, an HMSO publication from the 1920’s, records that Private 37036 Arthur Frederick Mann was Killed in Action on the 15th June 1918 while serving in France & Flanders with the 1st Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers. Arthur was formerly 32357 Northamptonshire Regiment.
He was born Sedgeford, Norfolk and enlisted Norwich. No place of residence is shown.

The Medal Index Card for Private 37036 Arthur F. Mann, Northumberland Fusiliers, (catalogued as 37056), is held at the National Archive under reference WO 372/13/102628
He had previously served in a Theatre of War as 32357 Northamptonshire Regiment.
Source: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D3916297
He qualified for the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. This combination of medals would indicate he did not serve in a Theatre of War until on or after the 1st January 1916. Other than a reference in the remarks section to him being “K in A”, the only other details on the card are administrative references.

His Service Records do not appear to have survived the incendiary attack during the Blitz on the Warehouse where all the Other Ranks Army Service Records were stored.

No match on Picture Norfolk, the County Image Archive.

The Government Probate Service holds a Soldiers Will for 37036 Arthur Frederick Mann who died 15 June 1918. https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/Wills?Surname=Mann&SurnameGrants=Mann&YearOfDeath=1918&YearOfDeathGrants=1918&IsGrantSearch=False&IsCalendarSearch=False&page=3#soldiers

From the edition of the Norwich Mercury dated Saturday, July 6, 1918.

Mr and Mrs. Frederick Mann have received information that their youngest son, Private Arthur Frederick Mann, Northumberland Fusiliers, was killed in action on the Western Front on the 15th June.

Arthur Mann, who was 20 years of age, joined up in February,1917, and went to France in February,1918. Prior to the war he worked on the East Hall Farm, where his father had been employed for nearly 40 years. Great sympathy is being expressed with the family.

______________________________________________________ 

1898 Birth

The birth of an Arthur Fred Mann was registered with the Civil Authorities in the Docking  District of Norfolk in the July to September, (Q3), of 1898. His mothers’ maiden name was Rix.

The civil registration District of Docking included the civil parish of Sedgeford. https://www.ukbmd.org.uk/reg/districts/docking.html

1901 Census of England and Wales

The 2 year old Arthur Mann, born Sedgeford, was recorded living at a Cottage on East Hall Farm, Sedgeford.
This was the household of his parents Frederick, (aged 45, a Shepherd, born Ringstead, Norfolk), and Sarah, (aged 45, born Brancaster Staith, Norfolk). Their other children living with them are:-

Robert………..aged 16….born Sedgeford…Shepherds Page
Edith………….aged 10…born Sedgeford
Frank…………aged 8…..born Sedgeford
Fanny…………aged 6….born Sedgeford
George………..aged 5….born Sedgeford

1911 Census of England and Wales

The Mann family were recorded living at East Hall Farm, although I suspect they were actually in one of the farm cottages. Parents Frederick, (56, Shepherd) and Maria, (57), state they have been married 27 years and have had 7 children, all then still alive. Of those children three were still single and living with them – Francis, (18, Farm Labourer), George, (14, Farm Labourer) and Arthur “Frederick”, (12).

1911 – 1915 Norfolk Electoral Register.

On the 1911 to 1915 yearly editions of the Norfolk Register of Electors, father Frederick Mann is shown as entitled to vote in Parliamentary, County Council and Civil Parish elections as he was the householder of a dwelling house at East Hall farm.

1911 Edition: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2CMG-3J2
1912 Edition: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2CMD-87H
1913 Edition: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2H15-FC8
1914 Edition: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2CMG-R4C
1915 Edition: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2H1W-1XF
(Production of electoral registers was suspended in the UK in 1916 & 1917).

Army Career

If the newspaper report can be taken at face value, Arthur did not go out to France until February 1918. Soldiers did not routinely transfer units, so subject to further investigation, the most likely situation is that he went out to France as part of a draft from a UK based unit to the 2nd Battalion of the Northamptonshire Regiment. On arrival at an Infantry Base Depot on the coast of France he was then redirected to where the need was greatest – the 1st Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers. So technically he did serve in France, if perhaps only for a few hours, with the Northamptonshire Regiment, but he may never have seen any combat service with any Battalion of that Regiment.

On the day…………………………………

Battalion War Diary.

“In the field”

14th June 1918 In Bde Support, operations carried out on Divisional Front which resulted  in an advance to a depth of about 450 yds on a front of 2 miles. About 200 prisoners taken.

15th June 1918 In Bde Support. Considerable hostile activity as a result of operations on previous night.

16th June 1918 In Bde Support Orders received for Bn to move into Bde Res on following night. Considerable amount of gas shelling at night.

The daily entries in the War Diary do not include casualties and there is just a grand total at the end of the month showing adjustments to strength.

My outstanding actions.

Still to be checked online – service medal rolls, Army Register of Soldiers Effects, Pension Rolls, Newspapers. 1918 and later electoral registers for parents to try and establish if they had moved – why isn’t Arthur remembered at Sedgeford? Most likely match for death of father was in 1931 in the Docking Civil Registration District – no obvious civil probate.
Did siblings serve – no newspaper mentions uncovered so far.
Still to be checked offline – Eastern Daily Press and the Kings Lynn Newspapers.

Hope that helps,
Peter

Edited 28 December , 2021 by PRC
Correction to year

[TullochArd]

A photo of Arthur was posted at:  Life story: Arthur Frederick Mann | Lives of the First World War (iwm.org.uk)

Edited 29 December , 2021 by TullochArd

[padrenick]

Wow a photo too thanks lads 

[padrenick]

His memorial plaque