2nd Lieutenant Arthur Clive TERRELL
4th Battalion Middlesex Regiment

Date of birth: 28th September 1898
Date of death: 20th April 1917

Died of wounds aged 18
Buried at Etaples Military Cemetery Plot XVII Row D Grave 7
He was born on the 28th of September 1898 the eldest son of Arthur Bishop Terrell and Elizabeth Hall (nee Herring) of Beach Avenue, Melbourne and of 81 Holland Park Avenue in London.

He was educated at Melbourne Church of England Grammar School in Australia and came to England with his mother and siblings on board the SS "Osterley", landing at London on the 25th of May 1912.

He attended the King’s School Canterbury from September 1912 to July 1914 where he was a keen member of the Officer Training Corps.

In 1914 he enlisted in the University and Public School Corps at Epsom before transferring to the Inns of Court Officer Training Corps as Private F/1874 on the 16th of October 1914. On the 19th of October he attended a medical examination at which it was recorded that he was five feet eleven and a half inches tall. He was sent for training to Berkhamsted. On the 22nd of January 1915 he applied for a commission and was released from the Inns of Court Officer Training Corps on the 19th of February 1915.

On the 20th of February 1915 he was commissioned as a probationary 2nd Lieutenant, in the 5th Battalion Middlesex Regiment (Special Reserve of Officers) and was confirmed in his rank in July 1915. He was attached to the 4th Battalion of his regiment and embarked for France on the 15th of June 1915, joining his battalion at Ypres.

On the night of the 18th of July 1915 the battalion relieved the 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders in trenches at Hooge in the Ypres Salient. The following day a large mine was to be exploded under the German line opposite and two companies of the battalion were to attack immediately the mine exploded. At 7pm on the 19th of July the huge mine blew up and the Middlesex men rushed forward to occupy the crater which they consolidated late on the 20th of July when they were relieved. The German artillery retaliated with heavy howitzer fire which lasted several hours. Arthur Terrell was badly affected by the effects of this shell fire and was hospitalised for two weeks in France suffering from his nerves.

The 25th of September 1915 saw the opening day of the Battle of Loos. That day the 4th Battalion Middlesex Regiment were in support to a battalion of Royal Scots but were not called upon to move forward until the following day. Until the 29th of September they were largely involved in providing working parties and some reinforcements to the forward battalions, all the time suffering casualties from almost continuous shellfire. On the 29th of September the Germans exploded a large mine under British positions on the left of the Middlesex men and the German counterattack which followed was repelled. On the 30th of September the 4th Middlesex were detailed to attack and hold the German trenches opposite. At 3pm the British artillery opened fire and fifteen minutes later the Middlesex men rushed forward. Although the artillery had damaged the German trenches they had not cut the barbed wire in front of them with the result that, although the Middlesex men managed to get through the Royal Scots in the centre of the attack could not. A shortage of bombs and reinforcements led the Middlesex to dig in where they were at about 4.30pm. In the bitter fighting which followed, 2nd Lieutenant R.P. Hallowes of the 4th Middlesex won a posthumous Victoria Cross but the new line held and the battalion was relieved on the evening of the 1st of October.

Arthur Terrell was evacuated from the front line suffering with shell shock on the 30th of September and was sent to hospital in Vermelles, staying there until the 12th of October when he moved to a hospital in Rouen. On the 15th of October he was taken on board the Hospital Ship "St Andrew" and landed at Southampton the following day when he was taken straight to the Officers Convalesce Home at Osborne on the Isle of Wight .

On the 22nd of October his mother received the following telegram:-

"Lieut. A.C. Terrell Middlesex Regiment admitted officers convalescence home Osborne Oct 17th with neurasthenia".

On the 31st of October 1915 his case was reviewed by a Medical Board which sat at Caxton Hall. They summarised the case and concluded:-

"He went to France in June and suffered from the effects of shellfire in July. For this he was in hospital in France for a fortnight. On the 30th of September at Vermelles his nerves gave way and he was sent home. He has suffered from bad dreams and sleeplessness but is now a great deal better but requires rest."

He was given leave from the 31st of October until the 21st of November during which time he visited King's. On the conclusion of period his leave was extended to the 2nd of January 1916 when he was declared as fit for home service and given six weeks of light duties. On the 13th of January he joined the 5th battalion of his regiment for duty. On the 12th of February a further medical board sat at Fort Pitt to revisit his case and recommended that he continued to be fit only for home service.

On the 13th of March 1916 another medical board sat at Fort Pitt and concluded:-

"Has neurasthenia. He has had another sore throat, both tongue and tonsils are enlarged-inflamed, he has been taken off duty for 4 days. His neurasthenia symptoms have returned, sleeping badly. He is not so well as at his last board. A months leave is recommended ".

Sick leave was granted until the 12th of April.
On the 19th of June 1916 at a medical board sitting at Fort Horsted, Chatham he was passed fit for general service and fit to return to France.

On the 9th of April 1917 the British offensive at Arras was opened. The 4th Battalion Middlesex Regiment did see action on the first day of the battle but, at 10.30am on the 10th of April the battalion received verbal orders to advance with three other battalions and capture the German positions at Lone Copse Valley. At 11.30am they moved forward but progress was slow as the men were forced to take cover constantly due to very accurate enemy artillery fire. By 3.30pm a few men from the four battalions had arrived at the objective and, although some men pushed further forward they were forced back and consolidated a new line at 6pm. Arthur Terrell was badly wounded by shellfire during this attack.

On the 13th of April 1917 his mother received
the following telegram:-

"Regret to inform you Lieut. A.C. Terrell Middlesex Regiment admitted 1 Red Cross Hospital Le Touquet. Dangerously ill-multiple gunshot wounds. Further reports wired immediately."

On the 14th of April a telegram was sent to his father in Australia:-

"One Red Cross Hospital Le Touquet reports April fourteenth Lieut. A.C Terrell Middlesex Regiment dangerously ill may be visited."

His mother had been ill but was recovering and replied that she wanted to travel to see him but needed to take a companion. Later that day she received another telegram granting permission to travel and for her to take as her companion Mrs Bertha Huth who had been Arthur's guardian when he was at King's.

On the 17th of April she received the following:-

"You are permitted to visit Lieut. A.C. Terrell Middlesex Regiment dangerously ill at 1 Red Cross Hospital Le Touquet. You must produce this telegram at War Office (Officer Casualty Dept) for exchange for permit. If you wish to substitute another name for visit your written authority must be attached to telegram. If you are unable to bear expense take this telegram to nearest police stn."

Before his mother could make travel arrangements he died of septicaemia from multiple wounds caused by shell fragments.

On the 21st of April 1917 she received a final telegram:-

"Deeply regret to inform you Lieut. A.C. Terrell Middlesex Regiment died of wounds April twentieth-the army council expresses sympathy."
 

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