Arthur's Story.
EARLY LIFE
Arthur Scragg was born in Macclesfield and baptised on 19 May 1886 at St George's Church, Sutton, south Macclesfield, the son of Amy and William Henry Scragg, a cotton stripper and grinder. In 1891, five-year-old Arthur was living at 32 Cross Street, Sutton, south Macclesfield, with his parents and siblings Charles (11), Alice (6), Victoria (3) and five-month-old Edward.
By 1901 the family had moved to 56 St George's Street, and Arthur was working in a cotton warehouse.
MILITARY SERVICE
Arthur Scragg joined the 1st Battalion of the Cheshire Regiment on 6 April 1908. He stated that he was a cotton weaver and a Wesleyan Methodist, and had previously served with the 7th Battalion, Cheshire (Territorial) Regiment. He served in India for two years, from 18 October 1912 until 18 November 1914, returned to England on 23 December 1914 , and was drafted to the Western Front on 16 January 1915.
About a month after his arrival, Private Scragg was shot in the neck. He was treated at the local Field Ambulance station and then transferred to Rawalpindi British General Hospital (R.P.B.G.) at Wimereux. About two weeks later, on 1 March 1915, Private Scragg was repatriated to England for further treatment at Netley Hospital, Southampton, followed by two months' convalescence at nearby Highfield Hall.
Private Scragg was promoted to Lance-Corporal on 28 February 1916 and returned to France two months later, on 28 April. Five months later, in September 1916, he was appointed Acting Sergeant.
Sergeant Scragg was killed in action on 17 February 1917; his death was reported in the Macclesfield Times on 16 March 1917:
FROM INDIA TO THE TRENCHES – MACCLESFIELD SERGEANT KILLED IN ACTION
Mr William H Scragg, 56 St George’s Street, Macclesfield, has received official intimation of the death in action of his only son, Sergt Arthur Scragg, who was killed on February 17th. Thirty-one years of age, the deceased was educated at the Centenary day school under Mr John Earles and attended the Brunswick Sunday School. He was employed as a weaver at the Lower Heyes mill and joined the Cheshire Regt about ten years ago. Sergt Scragg was with the 2nd Batt in India when war broke out and landed in England at Christmas, 1914. After a short period at Hursley park camp, Winchester, during which the Sergeant was home on four days’ leave, he was drafted out to France on January 16th, 1915. In the succeeding month he was seriously wounded, being shot through the neck, while in the trenches at Ypres, by a German sniper. Sergt Scragg spent some time in the Red Cross hospital at Netley, where he made a wonderful recovery, and in April was transferred to the Highfield Hall Convalescent Home at Southampton. He was discharged on May 10th 1915, and after seven days’ leave at Macclesfield joined the 3rd Batt of his regiment at Bidston Camp, Birkenhead. Here he was stationed till the end of April, 1916, when he again went out to France and was attached to one of the Cheshire Battalions as acting sergeant. Deceased was on the Somme front, and in September was granted ten days’ leave of absence from the trenches for good service, this being the last time he was at home.
COMMEMORATION
Sgt Arthur Scragg has no known grave and is commemorated on Panel 4 and 5 of the Ploegsteert Memorial in Belgium. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission holds casualty details for Sgt Arthur Scragg.
Sgt Arthur Scragg is commemorated in Macclesfield on the Park Green, Town Hall, St Michael's Church, St George's Church and the Brunswick Wesleyan Church war memorials.
NOTES
Another Macclesfield man named Arthur Leonard Scragg was killed in action on 31 July 1917.
SOURCES
GRO (England & Wales) Index: Births, Marriages, Deaths
Macclesfield Parish Baptism Register Transcriptions (Ancestry)
Census (England & Wales): 1891, 1901
WWI British Army Service Records 1914-1920 (FindMyPast)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission website
Macclesfield Times: 16 March 1917, 23 September 1921 (photo supplement)
Research by Rosie Rowley, Macclesfield.