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Lance Corporal Frederick MAY, 1 Battalion (Regular) Bedfordshire Regt.
1887- 11th 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 11th December he was promoted to Lance-Corporal. Sadly, he
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succumbed to sniper fire on 12 December and was killed.

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 Belgian, which covers the area known as Ypres, Salient.

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Capt Arthur Jewell NORTH, MC 4 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.

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On 25 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,
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he joined his first line Battalion in France on 3 December 1916, and returned home on 25 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.

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On 29 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
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plans to deliver a succession of hammer blows on the Western Front and on 26 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, Capt North was fatally wounded and died the next day, just
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three days before his 35 birthday.