Arthur Eaton

ARTHUR EATON

2244344, Sergeant, Arthur Roland Eaton, 1/5th Battalion, ‘C’ Company, Cheshire Regiment, former numbers, 2098 and 15744.

Born in 1897 at Macclesfield, son of Joseph Hackney and Annie Eliza, (Bamford), Eaton, of, 84, Bond Street. The family moved later to 49, Newton Street. Arthur was connected with Christ Church. In civilian life he was employed as a clerk, in a Manchester shipping office

Arthur attested in Macclesfield, into the local Territorials at the outbreak of war, he was only 17 years of age at the time. After training at Bedford, he voluntarily transferred to another Battalion for active service in France. He was drafted with the British Expeditionary Force to France, 14/12/1914. Arthur soon gained promotion, eventually attaining the rank of Sergeant. ‘The History of The Cheshire Regiment in the Great War’ places the 5th Battalion Cheshire’s at the battle of Cambrai (20 November to 7 December, 1917).

During November, the 5th Battalion was employed on widening the main Cambrai road by corduroying the north side from Beugny to Boursies. It was evident that something was in preparation, but no news of an attack leaked out till the 16th. No additional camps had been constructed, no guns had registered, and secrecy had been maintained. The 56th Division on the extreme left, made a feint attack in which dummy tanks, dummy figures and smoke were largely used. On the 21st, two companies of the 5th Battalion were engaged in clearing the main road by circumnavigating craters by corduroy diversions and in bridging trenches cut across it. By the 24th, the enemy was much more active, and Boursies had to be evacuated.

On the 30th, after they had beaten off very heavy German counter-attacks, the 5th Battalion sent H.Q. and 3 companies to reinforce the 169th Brigade, and one to the 168th. Arthur died of wounds received from shell fire, Monday, 26 November 1917, he was aged 20 years.

Medals: 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Sergeant, Arthur Rowland Eaton is buried at Hermies Hill British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. C.W.G.C. Ref: – III. A. 12.

Also refer to

• Macclesfield Troops pre WWI
• Photos from Barnswood archive Macclesfield WW1
• Photos of 3rd Macclesfield Troop pre WW1
• ‘Great war history of 3rd Macclesfield’ by Sue Henderson
• Photos from Barnswood archive Macclesfield WW1
• ‘Big Hats, Shorts and Dyb Dyb Dyb’ – a history of Macclesfield and Congleton Scouts by Norman Gosling
• WWI List of Addresses Trevor Druce Macclesfield Reflects