BILLINGHAM, Arthur

Arthur Billingham was born in Cradley and his family lived in Bearmore Road, Old Hill. He enlisted in the South Staffordshire Regiment and was transferred to the 2nd Battalion of the Essex Regiment. In 1917 they were involved in the Spring Battles of Arras and from August in the long Third Battle of Ypres at Broodseinde and Poelcappelle. In April 1918 they faced the second German Spring offensive on the Lys and were driven back as far as Bethune. They stayed on this line until the start of the Advance to Victory in August. Just before the great advance Private Arthur Billingham was killed in action, probably by shell fire, on the 18th August. He was 20 years of age and is buried in Mont Bernanchon Cemetery near Bethune (II C 1) and commemorated on the Lye and Wollescote and Lye church Memorials.