Soldier Record

I never knew Frederick Marshall Arnold, my Great Uncle, who died even before my father was born. He was the youngest brother of my maternal Grandmother and died on or before 27th March 1918 as a Lieutenant of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers attached to the 9th (Service) Battalion of that regiment.

Lt Fred M Arnold, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, was killed in action

His Battalion had 460 Officers and men killed, wounded and missing between 21st and 28th March 1918, when it was in action resisting the German offensive in the vicinity of the Somme. I believe that he died around Hebuterne (the army forms show only 'In the field- France') but this is only educated guesswork and the two casualty list entries for him show the uncertainty.

The first was in the Rhyl Journal dated 13th April 1918:

Casualty List:

Lt Frederick Marshall Arnold, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, youngest son of Mr and Mrs RB Arnold, Chester House, is reported to have been badly wounded on 25th March. Further news concerning him is anxiously awaited by his parents. He is one of three soldier brothers, the other two being in Palestine. He has been in France for six months.

The second was in the Rhyl Journal dated 11th May 1918, again under the Casualty List heading:

Official notice has been received this week by Mr and Mrs RB Arnold that their youngest son Lt Fred M Arnold, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, was killed in action during the latter part of March. He will be remembered by all who knew him as a fine young man of great promise. Before joining the colours he was engaged in scholastic work and he had hopes of studying for the Ministry after the war, being deeply interested in religious work.

He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial and in his home town of Rhyl. Possibly the last word should go to his father who, when replying to a War Office enquiry as to the address for sending the Memorial Plaque, wrote, "Dear Sir, Shall be pleased to receive the plaque and scroll as a memorial of my son's patriotism and sacrifice."