ARTHUR HENRY CARGILL 

Arthur Henry Cargill was born in Birkenhead, in 1896, the son of Arthur Cargill. His father had been born in Birkenhead, in 1872, and had been married and had 2  son’s: Arthur Henry Cargill (born in 1896); and Charles H. Mc D. Cargill (born in 1899). In 1904, he re-married, and was living with his new wife, Emma Cargill (born in Birkenhead, in 1876) in 1911, at 19, Wellesley Street, Birkenhead. The couple had 4 children together, but 2 subsequently died. The surviving children were: John Alfred Cargill (born in 1905), and Edith Cargill (born in 1909). Arthur Cargill (Snr) was employed as a Brickyard Labourer, and Arthur Henry Cargill was employed as a Dyer’s Van Boy, but by 1914, was employed as a Motor Driver. Charles and John Cargill were at school. In his spare time, Arthur Henry Cargill was a member of the Salvation Army, and played in this organisation’s brass band.

 

On 23rd October 1914, Arthur Henry Cargill enlisted into the 1st/4th Bn Cheshire Regiment (No.2513), at Birkenhead. At his medical he was recorded as being 18 years 7 months old; 5ft 4 ½ in tall; with a fully expanded chest of  34in; and his religious denomination as being Church of England. On 1st May 1915, he was transferred to the 3rd/4th Bn Cheshire Regiment, and on 8th January 1916, he was appointed Paid Lance Corporal. Lance Corporal Cargill was embarked at Southampton, and sent to France on 28th January 1917, and disembarked at Rouen, on 29th January 1917. From here he was sent to No.4 Infantry Base Depot, Rouen. Initially, Private Cargill was posted to the 1st/5th Bn Cheshire Regiment, but this was changed to the 10th Bn Cheshire Regiment, on 11th February 1917, when this battalion was in the Ploegsteert Wood Sector, Belgium, and on 26th February 1917, he reverted to the rank of Private at his own request, when the battalion was at Berthen. On 13th March 1917, Private Cargill was awarded 10 day’s confinement to barracks for drunkeness. He was wounded with a shrapnel wound to his left leg, while almost certainly reparing trenches in the October Trench area, ear Messines, Belgium, on 9th July 1917, and sent to the 77th Field Ambulance. From here he was admitted to the 1st New Zealand Field Ambulance on 23rd June 1917, before re-joining the 10th Bn Cheshire Regiment, on 27th June 1917, when it was resting at Denne Broeucq. Private Cargill was wounded a second time, on 15th July 1917, with gas and gunshot wounds – almost certainly with “D” Company (“A”, “B”, and “C” Companies were at the Esplanade, Ypres, cleaning up) – when this company went up the line. He was admitted to 46th Field Ambulance on the same day, and returned to duty with the battalion on 25th July 1917. Private Cargill was wounded for a third time, with a gunshot wound to his a finger on his left hand, on the Bellewaarde Ridge, on 1st August 1917, and admitted to the 2nd/1st Worcester Field Ambulance, and then the 3rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station the following day. On 13th August 1917, he was admiited to No.2 Convalescence Depot, Rouen, and following his recoverey, Private Cargill was sent to No.4 Infantry Base Depot on 25th September 1917. He proceeded to re-join his battalion on 1st October 1917, and re-joined 10th Bn Cheshire Regiment the following day, when it was in training at Burbure. From 10th – 24th January 1918, Private Cargill was granted leave back to England, and re-joined the battalion at or near Lagnicourt. He contiued to serve with the 10th Bn Cheshire Regiment until he was posted as “missing” on 24th March 1918. It was believed that he had died after he had been taken Prisoner of War. His body was later found, and buried in Plot 2, Row 1, Grave 2, Achiet-le-Grand Communal Cemetery Extension, France.

 

Private Arthur Henry Cargill’s medal entitlement consisted of Memorial Plaque, British War Medal, and Victory Medal. His father received his son’s Memorial Plaque in April/May 1920; his Memorial Scroll on 11th December 1920; and his British War Medal and Victory Medal on 25th January 1922.

 

Private Cargill is also commemorated on the war memorial archway in Christ The King (St. Anne’s) Church, Birkenhead.



Family application form requesting Arthur to be added to the Birkenhead War Memorial.



Researched and compiled by Peter Threlfall.

Arthur Cargill's photograph by Chris Booth