Arthur Thomas Culmer 1896 - 1916

A cowman on farm and the child of Charles Culmer (an ordinary agricultural labourer) and Emma Beak, Arthur Culmer, the first cousin twice-removed on the mother's side of Nigel Horne, was born in Sarre, Kent, England on 3 Apr 18961,2 and baptised in St Nicholas-at-Wade, Kent, England on 31 May 1896.

During his life, he was living at 1 Chalk Hole Cottages, Garlinge, Kent, England on 31 Mar 1901[1] and at Newports Lydden, Garlinge on 2 Apr 1911[4].

He died on 7 Oct 1916 in Flanders, Belgium3 (sergeant) and is buried at Bancourt British Cemetery, Bancourt, Pas-de-Calais, France. He served in the military in 1916 (regiment: Buffs (East Kent Regiment); Rank: Sergt. Service number: G/212 From www.kentfallen.com 'CULMER, ARTHUR THOMAS. Sergeant, G/212. "A" Company, 6th (Service) Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 7 October 1916. Aged 20. Born Sarre, Kent. Enlisted and resided Margate, Isle of Thanet, Kent. Son of Emma Culmer of Newport Cottage, Lydden, Margate, Isle of Thanet, Kent, and of the late Charles Culmer. Buried Bancourt British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Grave Ref: VIII. A. 7. At the time of the 1901 census, the Culmer family resided at 1, Chalk Hole Cottages, Garlinge, Isle of Thanet, Kent. Head of the house was 48 year old Monkton, Isle of Thanet, Kent native Charles Culmer, who wasemployed as an Agricultural Labourer. In/on SDGW, Arthur's place of birth is shown as Lane, Birchington, Isle of Thanet, Kent, but on the above census and on his service papers, it is recoded as Sarre, Kent.When he enlisted in the Army Reserve (Special Reservists) for 6 years on 17 August 1914, Arthur stated that he was 18 years and 4 months old, employed as a Farm Labourer and that he resided at his fathers house. Having been posted tothe 6th (Service) Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) on 24 August 1914, Arthur then remained in the same battalion until his death. On 27 November 1914, he was appointed an (unpaid) Lance; Corporal, and paid as such on 29 April 1915. After serving for 288 days at home, Arthur was posted to France on 1 June 1915. On 13 October 1915, Arthur was promoted to be a (paid) Lance Sergeant, and appointed to an Acting Sergeant on; 14 April 1916. Arthur was promoted to the rank of Sergeant on 13 July 1916. Arthur was numbered amongst the 8 officers and 121 other ranks that lost their lives in his battalion on 7 October 1916 The battalion total casualty roll for the day numbered 368. What follows is the War Diary entry for the day: - "Quiet morning. At 1.30 p m the enemy opened heavy machine gun fire and shrapnel barrage on the front line. At 1.45 p m the attack commenced. Very heavy M.G. fire was opened, which held up"C" Company on the right. "A" and "B" companies reached the 1st objective (Rainbow Trench) with fairly heavy casualties but on advancing from 1st to 2nd objectives were completely held up with M.G. fire. Twenty men of "C" Company succeeded in getting into the German trench, with troops from the 61st Brigade, and advanced with them. The 1st objective was held until 12 midnight when the Battalion was relieved by the 6thQueen's."; Captain J.C. Page, the only officer of the battalion who was not either killed or wounded on 7 October 1916, led just forty other ranks from the field of the €˜Battle of the Transloy Ridges,' and was later awarded the Military Cross.').

Citations

1. 1901 England, Wales & Scotland Census - Findmypast (was age 4 and the son of the head of the household)
2. Kent, Canterbury Archdeaconry baptisms 1538-1912 - Findmypast
3. Commonwealth War Graves Commission Debt Of Honour - Findmypast
4. 1911 Census for England & Wales - Findmypast (was age 15 and the son of the head of the household)

To be done

Burial place (Bancourt, Pas-de-Calais, France) has no citations

Location for 1901 (1 Chalk Hole Cottages, Garlinge, Kent, England) differs from mother's (1 Chalk Hole Cottages, Flete, Thanet, Kent, England)

Location for 31 Mar 1901 (1 Chalk Hole Cottages, Garlinge, Kent, England) differs from father's (Chalk Hole Cottages, Garlinge, Kent, England)

Location for the event on 1916 is empty