Arthur Law’s story is in a way more sad for his family than the other families of men and boys on the memorial, but I suspect there are many stories the same that we have not found, as Arthur’s fate was not recognised until over a year after his death, so his family, probably believing Hope is eternal, thought he might come home one day.

In the Flintshire Leader of the 22th December 1919 (Page 8, Col.3) under the heading “Killed in Action” it was reported that Arthur Law’s wife and parents had had official intimation that Arthur had died on the 27^th May 1918.

I cannot find any Attestation Papers for Arthur to help tell his story, however, some documents have survived the bombings of the 2^nd World War.

Arthur Law in the UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 tells us that he was born and enlisted in Stalybridge, Lancashire, but he resided in Shotton, Cheshire (Shotton was under the Chester in that era.)   It also told us that he was formerly in the Manchester Regiment, Regimental Number 2600.   Later documents tell us that he to the left.

Arthur Law in the British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920 is the source of his other Regimental Number, 350850 in the Manchester Regiment and his number in the , Notts and Derby (Sherwood Foresters) Regiment.   This medal card has no information on it other than the regimental details and his Victory & British War Medal details, but no other medal is mentioned and his Theatre of War and when he entered it was blank.  The newspaper cutting referred to Arthur winning “several distinctions and Medals.”

Arthur Law  in the UK, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 tells us that his death was presumed on the 27^th May 1918 and that the sole Legatee was his wife Elsie who received £22 4s 6d on the 26^th May 1920 which included his War Gratuity of £21.   This source gave us the clue to try and find his marriage, when in 1913 an Arthur Law married an Elsie Bamford, in the Methodist Church in Caroline Street, Stalybridge, Lancashire (Tameside AP56/2/31).    Any help would be appreciated.

This leads me to think that they came to live in Shotton after that or at least after the 1911 census as I cannot find either of them in Deeside on that census.

However, he was known here as the newspaper cutting below explains.  This is also a “bio” of his life in the Army.

His name was not put forward to be remembered on the Memorial, which again, leads me to think that Elsie was to return home to Stalybridge and to her family.

Any help would be much appreciated.