Arthur Clarence Moffatt

ARTHUR CLARENCE MOFFATT MM

Private 27897, 9th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers

Died 6th October 1917 aged 23

No Known Grave Commemorated Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium

Son of Harry Gaythorne and Mary Moffatt

Lived at 97, Brighton Street, Heckmondwike

Arthur was born in Heckmondwike in 1894, he was the son of Harry Gaythorne Moffatt and his wife Mary.  Arthur’s father died in 1904 when Arthur was eight, his mother never remarried.

Before the outbreak of war he had been a Leather Cutter for CWS Bootworks but had been employed by Messrs Cooke & Sons in the year prior to him joining the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry in November 1915.  He was later transferred to the Lancashire Fusiliers.  After completing his training he was posted to Egypt and from there went to the Dardanelles and was evacuated from Gallipoli before returning to Egypt; he was transferred to France in July 1916.

He was mentioned in Sir Douglas Haigh’s despatches for keeping up communication from the headquarters to the first line of trenches during a heavy bombardment.  He received the Military Medal in August 1917 for a similar act of bravery.  Arthur died during the Battle of Pashendaele, an eyewitness account states that Arthur’s body was found on the battlefield by a party of Royal Engineers who moved him to a dressing station but he died on the way there.

An article in the Heckmonwike Hearld describes his death as "We regret to say that another of our local lads has made the supreme scarifice, and died for his country.  We refer to Private Arthur Clarence Moffatt, son of Mrs. Moffatt, of 95 Brighton Street, Heckmondwike.  It appears that Private Moffatt went into action on the 4th inst., and was reported wounded and missing.  Nothing definite was known as to his fate until the following letter was received by Mrs. Moffatt, on the 19th:- "I am writing this short note to say that your son, Arthur, was found on the battlefield on Saturday by a party of Royal Engineers, who immediately removed him to the dressing station, but I am very sorry to have to tell you that he died on the way there.  I may say that Arthur will be interred in a British cemetery in the usual way tomorrow morning."  The deceased soldier was a fine lad, and deep sympathy will go out to his sorrowing relatives.  He joined the Army in June, 1915, and was attached to the Lancashire Fusiliers and had seen much active service."

A second article followed "The mother of the late Private A. C. Moffatt, of the Lancashire Fusiliers, has received the following letter from his sergeant:- "On behalf of the section to which your late son, Arthur, belonged, I wish to express their heartfelt sympathy in your sad bereavment.  I wish to assure you that we miss his smiling face and fully realise what a loss you have sustained.  Perhaps it will ease you some little to know that although Arthur was mortally wounded he remained unconscious until he passed away.  He received a shell wound in the head, and although it was impossible to remove him immediately every effort was made for his comfort and safety.  Your son performed the duties of a runner ably and well, and I may say without fear of contradiction that the part he played was fully deserving of the recognition he received in the shape of the Military Medal.  His duties entailed great risks, which he faced boldly and set a good example.  We miss him very much and with one accord tender our deepest sympathy.""{PL/RC-090}

Can you help? Do you have a better picture, are you able to add more information?

If you can please email us at spenvalleyhistoricalsociety@gmail.com

We have a cutting from the local newspaper that you may be interested in, if you wish to view this please email us and we will forward it to you.