Arthur Kitchin
Date of birth: 1896
Date of death: 7.10.1917
Area: South Elmsall
Regiment: King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (8th Battalion)
Family information: Son of Thomas Kitchin, 6 High Street, South Elmsall
Rank: Private
Service number: 35390
War Service
Arthur enlisted in May 1914 at the KOLYI Barracks, Pontefract. After training he went to France August 1916. His regiment was the 8th Battalion Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, which was formed in Pontefract in Sept 1914 and went to Aldershot for training three months later.
On the 1st July 1916 the 8th Battalion KOYLI was virtually annihilated on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. During the second half of 1916 the 8th Battalion received reinforcements, Arthur Kitchin was one of these.
Arthur was fatally wounded whilst his battalion were occupying positions astride the Menin Road out of Ypres, north west of Gheluvelt, Belgium. He died of wounds at a casualty clearing station October 7th 1917 aged twenty-one.
His grave ref is 21B.1. in LIJSSENTHOEK Military Cemetery Poperinge West Vlaanderen. This cemetery contains 9901 Commonwealth burials and 883 war graves of other nationalities, mostly French and German.
Family life
Arthur Kitchin lived in South Elmsall (High Street). He was employed in the blacksmith’s shop at Frickley Colliery before he enlisted.
His father Thomas Kitchen was also wounded in France. He was discharged on 27th March 1917 and lived until 1955.
The following poem, written by Liz Crompton, sister-in-law of John Walker, is included as a memorial to Arthur and all other casualties of the Great War:
What greater gift
Can any man give
Than to give his life for me
On this day I will remember
To be glad that I am free
To walk the fields and meadows
Without a worry or care
Sending my thoughts to you
In gratitude and prayer
Man’s freedom is a precious gift
But it comes wrapped up in strife
And I will not forget the day
You exchanged it for your life
Story submitted by John Walker
Arthur Kitchin
Newspaper cutting
South Elmsall War Memorial
Arthur Kitchin's gravestone
Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery
Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery
