The Queens Own Royal West Kent R

The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Private A W Elsworth

Private Arthur William ELSWORTH, 1328, "B" Company, 8th Battalion, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, died, 16th April 1919, age 32.

Born Sydenham, Kent, son of **Matthew and Sarah Elsworth, of Sydenham, London.

Next of Kin (Uncle) - Alfred Elsworth, 2 Bradford Road, Sydenham, Kent.

Enlisted Bromley, Kent, age 27 years & 1 month, height 5ft 2½ inches, weight 136lbs, fresh complexion, blue eyes, brown hair, scar below left elbow. Resided 54 Bradford Road, Sydenham, Kent. Formerly labourer (electricians mate).

Previously rejected for service due to teeth.

Home 6th September 1914 to 29th August 1915; BEF, 30th August 1915 to 5th August 1916; Home, 6th August 1916 to 22nd December 1916.

6th September 1914, enlisted and posted Depot, Royal West Kent Regiment; 12th September 1914, posted 8th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 5th April 1915, Redhill, absent from about 9.30pm until 10.00pm 7th April 1915, deprived of 2 days pay, forfeits 2 days pay; 6th August 1916, posted Depot, Royal West Kent Regiment; 15th November 1916, Berrington War Hospital, Shrewsbury.

1st December 1916, Medical Board Report - Parenchymatous Nephritis (Brights Disease) - originated March 1916 at Ypres, began after 2 months of very wet weather, when he was frequently soaked . While in Camp March 1916, observed headache & swelling of legs & scrotum also vomiting. Urine not examined and returned to duties July 23 1916. Again observed swelling of face & legs & scrotum, headaches & vomiting. Sent to Hospital. Remembers no previous illness. November 1915 had pains in the back. Weight 9st 12½ lbs. Feels well some days, not others. Face is full. Slight pitting on pressure over shin & ankle. Fair appetite. Cough but no sign of lung disease. Heart enlarged. Apex beat ¼ within nipple line. Booming 1st 2nd mitral area. Accentuated 2nd sound base of heart. Faint systolic murmur towards apex and all over cardiac area. Pulse 114. Urine dense deposit of albumen - no sugar. Due to cold exposure on active service and camp life, permanent. Prevents ¾.

22nd December 1916, discharged as "no longer physically fit for War Service" due to sickness. Silver War Badge issued

Pension 18/9 a week from 23rd December 1916, expires 22nd June 1917. Interim award 20th June 1917, pending receipt of medical report, expires 28th August 1917. Letter from man 5th July 1917, requesting re-examination. 15th August 1917, awarded 22/- a week from 4th April 1917, expires 30th October 1917. Report of Medical Board 1st October 1917, prevents 100%, 27/6 a week from 1st October 1917, former award cancelled from that date, expires 29th October 1918. Medical Board report 2nd September 1918, prevents 100%, in Hospital & out, albumen present, 27/6 a week for 52 weeks, expires 28th October 1919.

Commemorated at Lewisham (Ladywell) Cemetery, Screen Wall. D. 3184., United Kingdom.

NOTE : not included in Regimental History or Soldiers Died in the Great War; but included on the CWGC web site.

**23rd August 1920, letter from Uncle of 13 Springfield, Sydenham, London - "The above named Arthur William Elsworth (my nephew), died April 16th 1919."

**14th October 1920, letter from Uncle of 13 Springfield, Sydenham, London - "In reply to your communication date 13th October 1920 re medals due to the above named soldier. Enclosed is a copy of Death Certificate trusting this will be sufficient as I had to bear the funeral expenses he has neither brothers or sisters living. The whereabouts of his mother not being known and his father has been an inmate of Bexley Heath for years."

**28th October 1920, letter from London County Council, Bexley Mental Hospital - "In reply to your letter with reference to a decoration awarded to the above named, I have to say that his father, who is a patient here, is not able to officially acknowledge the receipt of it, but I have a good number of cases where the decoration has been sent and is being retained here during the patients residence, to be handed to the patient on his discharge, or in the event of death, to the nearest relative. If you are satisfied with this arrangement, you can send on the decoration awarded to the man's son."

**25th November 1921, letter from London County Council, Bexley Mental Hospital - "In answer to your enquiry, I have to state that Mr Matthew Elsworth is still a patient in this hospital."

This page was last updated on 12-Nov-2018.