First World War in Headington and Marston
New Marston War Memorial

Arthur Gerald HARLEY (1897–1916)

Arthur Gerald Harley was born in Oxford in 1897, the son of Charles Harley (born in Wendover, Buckinghamshire in 1853/4, registered Wycombe district first quarter 1854) and Mary Owen (born in Winslow, Buckinghamshire in 1853, registered Wycombe district second quarter). His parents were married in 1875/6 (according to the 1911 census) and had twelve children:

• Mary Harley (born in Wendover, Buckinghamshire in c.1876)
• Charles John Harley (born in St Clement’s, Oxford in 1879, registered fourth quarter)
• Henry Harley (known as Harry, born in St Clement’s, Oxford in 1881, registered second quarter)
• Kate Ellen Harley (born in 1883, died aged one week and buried at St Clement’s Church on 7 November 1883)
• William George Harley (born in St Clement’s, Oxford in 1886, registered third quarter)
• Annie Harley (born in St Clement’s, Oxford in 1888, registered third quarter)
• Herbert Harley (known as Bert, born in St Clement’s, Oxford in1890, registered second quarter)
• Edward Harley (born in St Clement’s, Oxford in 1893, registered second quarter)
• Ethel Florence Harley (born in St Clement’s, Oxford in 1895, registered fourth quarter)
• Arthur Gerald Harley (born in St Clement’s, Oxford in 1897, registered third quarter)
• Twin: George Harley (born in St Clement’s, Oxford in 1899, died aged two days and buried at St Clement’s Church on 3 March 1899)
• Twin: Francis Harley (born in St Clement’s, Oxford in 1899, died aged two days and buried at St Clement’s Church on 3 March 1899)

Arthur’s parents were living in Wendover at the start of their marriage, but by 1879 had moved to St Clement’s in Oxford. The 1881 census shows them living at 5 Rectory Road (then called Pembroke Street), and Arthur’s father Charles Harley was a billiard marker. The house number is given as 19 in 1891.

By the time of the 1901 census, when Arthur was a child of three, Mary and Charles (21) had left home; the latter was working as a hotel chef at Foulsham’s Hotel in Lowestoft. Arthur’s father was now a commission agent, and his brother Henry (19) was working as a painter.

At the time of the 1911 census Arthur (13) was at school, and his father (59) was described as a retired billiard table keeper. Only three of Arthur’s siblings were at home: Herbert (21), who was a tailor; Edward (18), who was a house painter; and Esther (15), who was still at school.

The family was still living at 19 Rectory Road in 1914, but they moved to 19 William Street, New Marston by the following year.

In the First World War Arthur Gerald Harley served as a Lance Corporal in the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Berkshire Regiment (Service No. 10379). He was killed in action at the Somme in France at the age of 21 on 1 July 1916.

He has no known grave, but is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial (Pier and Face 11D) and on the New Marston War Memorial on the Marston Road, Oxford.

All four of Arthur’s older brothers (Charles, Harry, William and Herbert) also volunteered to serve in the First World War, and the five brothers were pictured in the “Patriotic Families” section of the Oxford Journal Illustrated of 13 October 1915:

The caption under that picture reads: “The five sons of Mr. Charles Harley, William-street, New Marston: Gunner Charles Harley, R.G.A.; Pte. H. Harley, 2nd Royal Berks; Pte. A. Harley, 2nd Royal Berks; Pte. W. Harley, Canadian Expeditionary; and Pte. Bert Harley (City goalie), 2nd/4th O.B.L.I.”.

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Postscript

Arthur’s parents

• Mary Harley died at the age of 73 in the first quarter of 1927 (Headington registration district).
• Charles Harley was still listed at 19 William Street in Kelly’s Directory for 1936, but he died in the fourth quarter of that year (Oxford registration district). His age is given as 87, but in fact he was 83. His age is inconsistent in the censuses too.

Arthur’s siblings

• Herbert Harley (born 1890) worked as a tailor. On 1 September 1914 he married Ruth Annie Cook who lived nearby in Rectory Road at St Clement’s Church.