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13/09/1875 - 17/03/1916

Place of birth: Bromley, Kent
Last known address in Bromley: 11 Hilldrop Road

Military information

Regiment/Service: Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment
Battalion/Ship: 2nd Bn
Rank: Private
Number: S/971

Family information

Parents: Alfred & Ellen Freeman Arnold (nee West)
Parents' occupation: Carpenter
Siblings: None
Wife: Alice Elizabeth Santer
Marriage date: 04-10-1903
Children: John Alfred (d), Henry Freeman, Bessie Dorothy, James West, John Alfred, William Albert, Christopher Jack

Census information

1891
Address: 7 The Parade, Masons Hill
1901
Address: Army
1911
Address: 5a Page Heath Villas
Occupation: Builder's Carman

Extra details

John was the only child of Alfred and Ellen Freeman Arnold.

He started his military career with the Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment, serving with them for 12 years. He served more than three years with them in Malta before volunteering to serve with the Mounted Infantry in the South African war. He received both the Queen Victoria and King Edward's medal and bars for the battles at Diamond Hill, Johaanesburg, Driefontein, Paardeberg and the Relief of Kimberley. He was amongst the first to enter Pretoria. He was slightly wounded twice, besides having two horses shot under him.

John married Alice Elizabeth Santer on 4th October 1903 in Bexley Heath.

At the outbreak of war John re-enlisted and joined the Royal West Kents. On enlistment he was aged 39, 5ft 5ins tall and weighed 126lbs. After serving sometime at home he was sent to Iraq on 10th December 1915. It was here that he received a gunshot wound to the head on 24th February 1916, was posted on the dangerously wounded list on 2nd March and died in Amara Hospital on 17th March.

John and Alice had six children, the last, Christopher, being born in August 1916. Alice was awarded a pension of £1.6.6d per week for herself and six children.