Page 44 - Sylvia Malt - Side by Side

Lance Corporal Frederick MAY, 1st Battalion (Regular) Bedfordshire Regt.
1887- 9th December 1914

Born in Dartford in 1888, 26-year-old Frederick Charles May had been in the regular Army
for seven years, enlisting in 1907. Following service in South Africa, Frederick left the army
to settle down to civilian life after marrying Edith Day in the spring of 1914. The couple’s
home was in Pretoria Cottages. But some six months later, after the outbreak of war, he
was called up to rejoin the Army. The combatant nations each still believed that a decisive
victory was possible but everyone knew that the war would not be over by Christmas, as
had originally been hoped. Frederick May’s bravery in the field was recognised and on 8th
December he was promoted to Lance-Corporal. Sadly, he succumbed to sniper fire and was
killed the very next day.

His devoted wife, bravely told the local paper: “although I miss my dear one more than I
can say, I am proud to know that he died for King and Country. He always wrote such
brave, cheerful letters. What braver death than dying for one’s country?” Like many young
widows, after the war Edith May married again and moved away from the Village.

In Memoriam: Frederick May is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. The
Menin Gate is one of four memorials to the missing in Belgium, which covers the area
known as Ypres, Salient.

Capt. Arthur Jewell NORTH, MC 4th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers
1883 - 27th September 1918

Born into a military family, Arthur Jewell North was the son of Col. J.T. North of Eltham,
Kent. He had a privileged upbringing and attended private school at Harrow where his
marksmanship was strong and in 1902 he won the Harrow School’s Spencer Cup.

Aged 23, Arthur North married Adelaide Garratt in St. George’s Church Hanover Square. It
was a big society wedding, following which they set up home at Elmstead Knoll,
Chislehurst where they employed a cook-housekeeper, butler, two domestic housemaids
and two domestic nurses to help with their four children and the running of the household.
By 1913, the family had settled into their new home at “Vale Mascal” a large mansion
originally built in 1746 in the grounds of the Mount Mascal estate.

On 25th September 1914 Arthur North was given a Captaincy in the Northumberland
Fusiliers, Territorial Force. Following service in various Battalions of the Northumberland
Fusiliers in England, he joined his first line Battalion in France on 3rd December 1916, and
returned home on 25th March 1917. Unfortunately, after being on leave for a short time,
Capt North developed an attack of trench foot, which affected him for many months. Trench
foot became a constant threat to the men. The terrible conditions in which they lived whilst
at the Front often meant they were continually standing in filthy, muddy water, which
soaked right through their Army leather boots, putties and protective foot wear.

By 29th August 1918 Captain North had recovered sufficiently to return to the Western
Front and was posted to a Service Battalion of his regiment. By late September, Marshal
Foch had finalised his plans to deliver a succession of hammer blows on the Western Front
and on 26th September he launched an attack in the Argonne region of eastern
France. Unfortunately on the very first day, after leading an attack on a strong position,
Captain North was fatally wounded and died just three days before his 35th birthday.

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