Introduction
Arthur John Partridge is one of the village’s valiant war dead of 1914-18 and is commemorated on the memorial in the church. He was the fifth man from the village to lose his life in the war.
Childhood
Arthur was born at Hardington in 1879, the fourth of fourteen children born to John Wethey Partridge and his wife, Charlotte.[1] His father worked as a general labourer. His mother was the daughter of Jonah Delamont, a canvas weaver, and before her marriage, she worked as a domestic servant at Bridge Farm, East Coker.[2]
Arthur was probably born at Broadstone. In about 1898, his parents moved to a five-room cottage at Lyatts.[3] In 1895, he was employed as a delivery boy by Mrs. Squire of Hardington Moor.[4]
Arthur’s father died on 3 March 1906 from bronchitis and heart failure at the age of 51.[5] By that time, Arthur had already been married for six years.
Marriage
In 1899, Arthur married Lucy Ellen Sims, the daughter of a cabinet maker, and they settled in Yeovil.[6] They had two children: Wilfred Albert, born on 23 November 1900 and Hilda Lucy May, born on 15 November 1907.[7]
During his time in Yeovil, Arthur had several addresses. In March 1901, he lived at 34 Great Western Terrace.[8] In 1907 and 1911, he lived at 84 Huish, and in 1914, he lived at 89 Beer Street.[9]
He had various jobs, including working as an assurance agent in March 1901, a dairyman in December 1907, and a coal carter in April 1911.[10] In his leisure time, Arthur attended the Pen Mill Adult School, which was established in January 1909 to improve the moral and social life of the Pen Mill district. [11]
First World War
In January 1915, Arthur joined the 8th Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry, with the regimental number 16971.[12]
On 27 January 1916, he died of his wounds in France at the age of 37.[13] He is buried at Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentieres.[14] His name is recorded on both the Hardington and Yeovil War Memorials.
Lucy’s late life
After Arthur’s death, Lucy received his outstanding pay of £4 1s 10d in April 1916 and a war gratuity of £3 10s in August 1919.[15] She also received a widow’s pension from 21 August 1916.[16] She continued to live in Yeovil and in June 1921, resided at 25 Camborne Grove.[17] By September 1939, her address was 62 Lyde Road. She died in 1962 at the age of 85.[18]
References
[1] Civil Registration Birth Index; Family reconstitution; RG14, piece 14381.
[2] RG11, piece 2389, folio 125, page 2; RG12, piece 1895, folio 106, page 6; RG13, piece 2297, folio 46, page 11; Family reconstitution.
[3] Voters’ lists; RG13, piece 2297, folio 46, page 11; RG14, piece 14381.
[4] Western Chronicle, 5 April 1895, p.3.
[5] Civil Registration Death Index; MI at Hardington Mandeville.
[6] Civil Registration Marriage Index; Llanfihangel Llantarnam mixed register.
[7] Civil Registration Death Index; St Andrews, Yeovil baptism register
[8] RG13, piece 2301, folio 99, page 26.
[9] St Andrews, Yeovil baptism register; RG14, piece 14409, voters’ lists.
[10] RG13, piece 2301, folio 99, page 26; St Andrews, Yeovil baptism register; RG14, piece 14409.
[11] Western Gazette, 11 February 1916, p. 5; Western Chronicle, 30 April 1909, p.5.
[12] Western Chronicle, 11 February 1916, p.8.
[13] Commonwealth War Graves, 1914-1921; Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919.
[14] Commonwealth War Graves, 1914-1921; Find a Grave.
[15] Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929.
[16] World War I Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923.
[17] RG15, piece 11322, schedule 122.
[18] Civil Registration Death Index.
