Summary

131400 Sapper Arthur Kenneth Atkinson, M.M., 206^th Field Company, Royal Engineers was killed in action 3 December 1918 and is buried at Soumoy Communal Cemetery, Belgium.[1]  He was 22 years old and is commemorated on the Evenwood War Memorial and the Roll of Honour, St. Paul’s Church, Evenwood. 

Family Details 

Arthur Kenneth was the son of John and Margaret Atkinson.   In 1901, the family lived at Darlington.  John was 29 years old, Margaret was 26 and Arthur was 4 years old.  John was born at Etherley, Margaret at Toft Hill and Arthur at Etherley. [2]  Arthur’s birth was registered at Bishop Auckland.[3]  At the time of his enlistment, August 1915, the family lived at Ford Terrace, Chilton Buildings, Ferryhill, Co. Durham.[4]  Sometime during the war, the family moved to Ramshaw [5] and later, Mrs. Atkinson moved to 22 Fishburn Terrace, Fishburn, Co. Durham. [6]

Military Details

17 August 1915: A.K. Atkinson attested at Stockton-on-Tees when 20 years old. He was 5’4” tall and worked as a blacksmith.  He was posted to 284^th Field Company, Royal Engineers and given the regimental number 131400.[7] 

21 August 1916: He entered France [8] after being transferred twice firstly to No.8 Company in March 1916 then 12^th Mechanical Bridging in May 1916 [9] presumably for specific instruction and training. 

Arthur W. Byers, steelworks engineer employed by the Durham Steel & Iron Company confirmed that Arthur Kenneth Atkinson was a “good” blacksmith. 

During his military service he was categorised as follows: [10]

• 17 August 1915 – proficient
• 1 December 1917 – skilled
• 15 October 1918 – superior (Lancs. Division)

Sapper A.K. Atkinson served a total of 3 years 109 days: [11]

• Home: 17 August 1915 – 20 August 1916……….1 year 4 days
• B.E.F.: 21 August 1916 – 3 December 1918…….2 years 105 days
• Total……………………………………………………………….3 years 109 days

Sapper A.K. Atkinson was admitted to hospital on 4 occasions: [12]

• 19 – 21 September 1916
• 16 – 24 August 1917
• 5 – 10 July 1918
• Again in October 1918 but the exact date cannot be deciphered.

Sapper A.K. Atkinson was awarded the British War medal, the Victory medal [13] and the Military Medal.[14]  Details of the Military Medal remain unknown.  The Military Medal was instituted in 1916 and awarded to non-commissioned ranks of the Army, Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Division for acts of bravery against the enemy.[15] 

Sapper A.K. Atkinson, whilst serving with 206^th Field Company, was killed in action 3 December 1918 [initially described as “accidentally killed” but later changed]. [16]

Announcement of his Death

The Evenwood Parish Magazine reported as follows:

“Also for Mr. and Mrs. Atkinson of Ramshaw, whose son Sapper Arthur Kenneth, M.M., R.E., after going through safely four years of fighting, was killed in December 1918, by the explosion of a bomb whist clearing away debris.” [17]

Burial

Sapper Arthur Kenneth Atkinson M.M. is buried at Soumoy Communal Cemetery, a village located north west of Philippeville, in the region of Namur, Belgium.  This cemetery contains the graves of 1 officer and 5 men of the 206^th Field Company, Royal Engineers killed in action 3 December 1918.  Along with Sapper A.K. Atkinson M.M. are buried: 

• Second Lieutenant William W. Bruce M.C. aged 23 years from Aberdeen
• Sapper Herbert William Bryant, aged 25 from Cardiff
• Sapper Frank Hackney aged 30 from Cheshire
• Sapper Judah Jacobs aged 25 from Bethnal Green, London
• Sapper William Cuthbert McCarthy M.M. aged 23 from Jarrow, Co. Durham.

Above: Soumoy Communal Cemetery

Commemoration

Sapper A.K. Atkinson M.M. is commemorated on the Evenwood War Memorial and the Roll of Honour, St. Paul’s Church, Evenwood. 

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REFERENCES

[1] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[2] 1901 census Note: no definite record has been traced for 1911.  His father’s employment/trade cannot be deciphered.

[3] England & Wales Birth Index 1837-1915 Vol.10a p.246 Auckland 1896 Q3

[4] Army Form B.2505

[5] Evenwood Parish Magazine

[6] CWGC

[7] Army Form B.2505

[8] Military History Sheet

[9] Army Form B.200

[10] Army Form B.195 Certificate of Trade Proficiency

[11] Military Service Sheet

[12] Army Form B.103 Casualty Form – Active Service

[13] Medal Roll

[14] London Gazette 7 October 1918

[15] Some 115,600 Military Medals were awarded during the First World War with 5,796 bars, 180 second bars and 1 third bar.  After 1913, the Military Medal was replaced with the Military Cross which was opened to all ranks. 

[16] Army Form B.200

[17] Evenwood Parish Magazine April 1919