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You are in [Themes] [War Memorials] [Arthur Henry Archard]

Private 22323 Arthur Henry Archard
5th Battalion (Princess of Charlotte of Wales's) Royal Berkshire Regiment

Local Information:

He was the son of Mrs Kate Archard, of 27 Newtown, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire and enlisted into his local Regiment at Hungerford. He was allocated to the 5th (Service) Battalion which was one of the Kitchener raised battalions. He died of wounds on the 8th August 1916, age 34. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the missing, Somme, France (Pier and Face IID).

A local newspaper reported :- 'Mr Arthur Archard had been killed in action on August Bank Holiday. The news was sent to the secretary of the Church House Club by a comrade, who said that no address was found on Archard, but knowing that he belonged to the club he had written, so that the sad news could be imparted to his parents and employer. Mr Archard was well known in the locality, having for over seventeen years been a trusted servant of Mr. C. Bodman, outfitter at Hungerford. Very fond of sport, he played football for the Graystone Cup some years ago. He also played cricket, and was an enthusiastic member of the Town Band. Mr Archard joined up with the Royal Berkshire Regiment in April last, and had only been out a week, or ten days when he met his death.'




		Regimental Badge of the Royal Berkshires



	Pte Archard's name on the Royal Berkshire Regiment panel to the missing on the Thiepval Memorial in France.

Regimental Information:

The 5th battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment war diary for the 8th August 1916 reads:
'The battalion was in trenches North West of Pozieres in 5th Avenue, (off the sunken road to Courcelette). The Germans made 4 counter attacks on the battalion positions between 3.0am and 5.30 am, using Flamerwerthers. The 4th attack succeeded in getting into our trenches and compelled our men to withdraw down the trench. A fresh barricade was erected 50 yards down the trench, where the Germans were held. Casualties – Officers 1 died of wounds, 1 missing, 1 wounded Ors (Other ranks) 128 killed, wounded and missing.' [Private Archard was one of these men].