Arthur was Born in Chapel En Le Frith on the 21st October 1895. He attended the Bugsworth Church School until he applied for a labour certificate at the age of 13yrs and assisted as a Blacksmith probably around the Whaley Bridge area. Arthur had a life-long love for Horses and was thus an ideal candidate for Transport section of "B" company. He arrived in France with the original 1/6th battalion on the 28th February 1915 and served with the battalion throughout the war.

During the Spring of 1919 the 1/6th began to demobilise, but civilian life presumably did not appeal to Arthur for, on 15th September 1919, he re-enlisted into the army, joining the 21st Lancers, service number L/19678, on 15th September 1919. Soon after this Arthur enlisted into the 1st Kings Dragoon Guards, service number 314665, and from there spent 16yrs under Army reserve section "D", which meant they could re-engage for 4yr blocks. This took him over to Germany during the occupation of the Rhineland in the British sector. In 1926, following the signing of the Locarno Pact and her admission into the League of Nations, Germany was no longer viewed as a pariah nation and the 1st King's Dragoon Guards left Germany in 1927 and returned home.

Arthur in the uniform of the 21st Lancers