Arthur John Pooley was born in Notting Hill Gate, Middlesex (now Greater London), the only child of John and Mary Anne Pooley. His birth was registered in the 1st quarter of 1894 in the Kensington registration district, Middlesex (now Greater London) which means he could have been born in either late 1893 or in early 1894.
In the 1901 census he was shown as aged 7 years living with his parents in a cottage on the estate of Llanvihangel Court, New Hereford Road, Llanvihangel Crucorney, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, England (now Wales). His father's occupation was given as a coachman. Llanvihangel Court was occupied by Napier George Sturt (1836-1901), a retired Royal Engineers Colonial Army Officer and his family.
He was shown in the 1911 census as aged 17 years, a cashier's clerk at a newspaper office, living in a 3 roomed property at 16 Hyde Park Gardens Mews, Paddington, London, with his parents. His father described himself as a domestic chauffeur.
He enlisted as a Private in the 13th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (Kensington), service number 3017, in December 1914. He entered France on 6 March 1915 and was killed in action, aged 21 years, on 9 May 1915. As he has no known grave he is commemorated on Panel 10 on The Ploegsteert Memorial to the Missing, that stands in the Berks Cemetery Extension, located approximately 8 miles south of Ieper town centre, on the N365 leading from Ieper to Ploegsteert, Belgium. (The Dutch name Ieper is the official one, the city's French name Ypres is most commonly used in English.)
On 3 February 1916 his army effects totalling £4-16s-3d were sent to his father who was also sent his £3-0s-0d war gratuity on 18 July 1919. He was posthumously awarded the 1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory medal.
He is shown as POOLEY. A.J. PTE. 15TH.COTY.LON.K.R. on the Quebec Chapel war memorial at the Church of The Annunciation, Bryanston Street, London, W1H 7AH. He is also commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website and on the Imperial War Museum's Live website.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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