Private Arthur John Truett

Although listed in Army Records as John Arthur, his birth is recorded as Arthur John. The war memorial in St Wilfrid’s church also displays Arthur.

Arthur was born in 1900, son of Thomas Charles and Rosehannah Truett, in Milton Ernest, Bedfordshire. Both Thomas and Rosehannah were born in Bedfordshire. Thomas worked for the Midland Railway which probably explains his move to Kibworth as he was a foreman platelayer in 1901.

At the age of 16 years, whilst working as a baker’s assistant, Arthur enlisted in the Army Reserve, Service Number 71381, on 20th September 1916. He served Reserve Home Service until 26th July 1917 when he was transferred to Home Service with the Durham Light Infantry, service number 82512. His Home Service continued until 1st April 1918. During his Home Service he served 2 periods of punishment; Absent from Church Parade on 24th December 1917, for which he received 3 days confined to barracks punishment, and on 30th December 1917, when he was Absent from C.O.’s Parade, for which he also received 3 days confined to barracks punishment.

On 2nd April 1918, he joined the 15th Battalion of the DLI, British Expeditionary Force, France & Flanders, embarking Folkestone to Boulogne, arriving at the front on 2nd May.

Four weeks later, on 29th May 1918, Arthur was dead. He was awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.

Private Truett is commemorated on the Soissons Memorial, Soissons, France.