Royal Army Medical Corps
Arthur Grace Louis was born on 29 June 1874 in Prestwick, Lancashire and was the son of Alfred and Cora Louis (née Grace).
He was educated at Park Hurst, Buxton, Derbyshire before studying at the Cheltenham College from 1887 to 1891, at which time his father was listed as a Manufacturer and Merchant and gave his address as Buxton, Derbyshire, and London and Manchester.
Alfred was in fact a Velveteen Merchant, and Arthur’s paternal grandfather Levi, who was married to Elizabeth, was a Cotton Merchant. Arthur served in the Cheltenham College Cadets, known as the 1st Gloucester Royal Engineer Volunteers.
Arthur married Caroline Elizabeth Handy, daughter of Thomas and Caroline Handy (née Garne), on 12 May 1897 at Salperton, Gloucestershire. There were no children from the marriage.
Arthur was living at Hygeia, Prestbury, Cheltenham when he enlisted as a Private in the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) in Cheltenham on 11 September 1914. He gave his age as 34 years and his height as 5 foot 11 inches, and occupation as Horse Dealer.
The next day he joined at Aldershot, and his service in the British Expeditionary Force in France was from 8 December 1914 to 16 May 1916.
He was admitted to the 14th General Hospital at Wimereux, France on 26 April 1916 and then returned to England on 17 May. He was at Brook War Hospital, Shooters Hill, Woolwich from 17 May to 4 July, suffering with heart problems, and was discharged as medically unfit for war service at Aldershot on 10 July.
He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Arthur died on 22 September 1916, aged 42, and is buried in the south-east of St Mary’s Churchyard, Prestbury, Cheltenham.
He left a widow, Carole Elizabeth who resided at Hygeia, Prestbury and later at Daylesford, Wellington Square, Cheltenham.
She subsequently died on 2 February 1951, aged 73, and is buried with him.
The memorial inscription reads: IN LOVING MEMORY OF MY DEAR HUSBAND ARTHUR GRACE LOUIS R.A.M.C. DIED SEPTr 22nd 1916 AGED 42 ‘GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS’ ALSO HIS WIFE CAROLINE ELIZABETH DIED FEBy 2ND 1951 AGED 73 “JOY COMETH IN THE MORNING”.
Arthur is commemorated on the Prestbury War Memorial and the St Mary’s Church (Prestbury) War Memorial as well as the Cheltenham College Roll of Honour.
Researched by Baden Russell who would like to thank and acknowledge Dave and Jimmy James for their website Leaving Cheltenham; Joe Devereux and Graham Sacker for their book ‘Leaving All That Was Dear’ and Jill Barlow, Cheltenham College Archive.