Arthur was born in Wincham, Northwich, Cheshire in March quarter 1889. He was the son of Charles Henry and Ellen Gray, of 4 Wallace St., Castle Northwich, Cheshire He had an elder brother, George Thomas, and a younger brother, Charles Henry. (Arthur's mother, Ellen, died in the September quarter 1903 and Charles remarried, Edith Oakes, in the following quarter 1903.)

At the time of his enlistment he stated his occupation as 'Painter'. He was 5' 4½" tall (1.64 m.), weighed 112 lbs. (8 st. 0lbs.) had a 'fresh' complexion and brown hair and brown eyes. His vision was measured at "3/6", but clearly good enough for his enlistment.

At the time of his death Arthur did not appear to be married as a letter in his service papers names his father as next-of-kin.

Arthur attested into the 1st Battalion at Northwich, Cheshire on 23rd January 1908 when he stated his age as 18 yrs 0 mths. His birth records, above, would suggest he was nearer to 19 years old. His terms of service were 7 + 5 (i.e. 7 years active service + 5 years reserve). So when War was declared he was still a serving soldier with the Battalion stationed in Londonderry.

He was posted to Bordon on 24th March 1908 for training and then posted to Belfast on 24th September 1909. On 26th October 1912 he was promoted to Lance Corporal (unpaid), paid from 4th November. For some reason he reverted to Private on 1st April 1913.   He received a '3rd Class Certificate of Education' on 3rd January 1910 and 'Transport Duties Instruction' in Belfast on 13th December 1912. He transferred to the Army Reserve on 22nd January 1915. On his discharge he stated that he was going to work for the Railway at Northwich.

He had accumulated three offences on his Conduct Sheet; two for being drunk whilst serving in Belfast, on 23rd August 1910 and 22nd September 1911, and in Londonderry, on 28th May 1913, he received 10 days C.B. for "breaking into barracks around midnight" and "having a woman in the garrison cells"! Nevertheless, his record shows him to be "Intelligent and hard working"

As a reservist he was recalled to the 1st Battalion at the outbreak of War and his Medal Card shows he entered France 16th August. According to an account in the 'Oak Leaf' was taken prisoner after the Battle at Audregnies on 24th August 1914, where he fought under Captain Rae-Jones in the right of the line. His prisoner of war status was confirmed by 'War Office Communiqué No 1155' (List: 7829/3026) on 29th September 1915 and that he was interred in the infamous Soltau camp.

Soltau p.o.w. camp had a reputation for mistreatment of prisoners, The New York Times of 5th January 1917 reported one instance of 70 Belgian TB patients being returned home in a cattle truck. At the end of War Arthur was probably being repatriated through Holland, but might already have been ill, as Soltau had a large number of TB cases.

Arthur's Death Certificate, dated 20th January 1919 stated that he died in Hospital at Enschede at 6.00 a.m. on the 13th of influenza. His family were not notified until 26th March!  Arthur had been in the War from its first day to the last and beyond, only to die of the 'flu three months after the Armistice and be buried in 'a foreign field'. In total he had served 10 years 356 days with the Regiment.

Samuel was born in Handbridge, Chester on 27 July 1890. He was the eldest son of Arthur (Corporation Labourer) and Lizzie Spencer and had three younger brothers, William, Samuel and Harry. (1901 Census RG13/3370) In 1911 the family was living at 29 Common Hall Street, Chester. (1911 Census RG14/21863)

At the time of his enlistment he stated his occupation as 'Labourer'. He was 5' 4" tall (1.64 m.), weighed 127½ lbs. (9 st. 1½lbs.) had a 'fresh' complexion and brown hair and grey eyes. His stated religion was Church of England.

At the time of his death Samuel did not appear to be married and in the 1911 Census he is recorded as 'single' living in the Regimental Barracks in Chester.

Samuel enlisted into the 1st Battalion at Chester on 26th February 1908, aged 17 years 7 months. His terms of service were 7 + 5 (i.e. 7 years active service + 5 years reserve). Prior to his enlistment he was serving with the 3rd Battalion. On enlistment his CO described him as "Smart, active and intelligent, suitable for the arm of the service he wishes to enlist. Good character."

He was posted to Bordon on 24th March 1908 for training and then posted to Belfast. His conduct sheet records one case of "Riotous behaviour in Market Street, Lurgan" (6th May 1911) for which he was confined to barracks for 8 days. He was treated in hospital in Belfast in March 1910 for gonorrhoea. On 6th October 1913 he was assessed as "Intelligent, hard-working and reliable" in his position as signaller.

As a serving soldier he went with 1st Battalion at the outbreak of War and his Medal Card shows he entered France 16th August. According to an account in the 'Oak Leaf' was taken prisoner after the Battle at Audregnies on 24th August 1914, where he fought under Captain Rae-Jones in the right of the line.  His prisoner of war status was unofficially confirmed by 'War Office Communiqué No 1155' (List: 7829/3026)

It is possible that, along with other members of the Regiment captured at Mons, that he was interred in the infamous Soltau camp. Soltau p.o.w. camp had a reputation for mistreatment of prisoners.

Samuel's Death Certificate, dated 10th January 1919 stated that he died in Hospital at Lonneker (about 3 km north of Enschede) at 2.00 p.m. on the 9th of "pneumonia following on influenza".

Samuel had been in the War from its first day to the last and beyond, only to die of pneumonia three months after the Armistice and be buried in 'a foreign field'.