Arthur Edward Hammond 1889 – 1918
Arthur was born in the fourth quarter of 1889, in Shepherdswell, to George and Mary Ann (née Tickner). He was their fifth child and third son.
He was living with the family at Botolph Street in 1891, Railway Close in 1901, and 5 Hillside Cottages, Church Hill, in 1911. In the 1911 Census, he was employed by the SE & Chatham Railway as a plate-layer.
Arthur enlisted at Canterbury on 26th August 1914, joining the 6th (Service) Battalion, The Buffs with the service no. 345. His was working as a labourer when he enlisted. His record shows that he was 5’7” tall, with dark hair, blue eyes, and a ruddy complexion.
He was posted on 4th September 1914 as a private. On the 3rd February 1915, he was transferred to the 12th Division Cyclist Company, in the Army Cyclist Corps. Subsequently he was then transferred into the 8th Cyclist Battalion. His service no. by this time was 3034. His War record shows that he had one offence in the field, when he was accused of ‘neglect of ammunition’.
He returned home at the end of the War to his family residence in Hillside Cottages. Shortly after this, he died of septic pneumonia on 27th November 1918, only three months after the death of his brother Frederick.
He was buried on 30th November 1918 at St Andrew’s.