Still joining up

On the 16th September 1918 Arthur William Bush, just four days after his eighteenth birthday enlisted in the 27th Transport Battalion of the Royal Army Service Corps.

Arthur William Bush, my first cousin three times removed, was born on the 12th September 1900 in Wimbledon, Surrey. He was the fourth child of Edwin Ernest and Ada Bush (Nee Searle). He had 3 older brothers Edwin Maurice (born 1893, Wimbledon), Alfred Ernest (born 1895, Wimbledon) and Frederick Charles (Born 1896, Wimbledon). He also had two younger brothers Albert James (Born 1903, Wimbledon) and George C (born 1908, Mitcham). He also had two younger brothers who died in infancy Horace Sydney (born & died 1904, Croydon) and John Joseph (born and died 1906, Wimbledon)

Arthur grew up in the family home at 8 Leyton Road, South Wimbledon. Ada, his mother passed away in 1910 aged just 38 years old, with Arthur only 10 years old and by 1911 the family (Arthur, his father Edwin and 3 brothers, Alfred, Albert and George were living in a one room dwelling at 41a Cowper Road, Wimbledon. However, his brother, Frederick was away from the family at the Holme Court Industrial School for Boys, Twickenham Rd, Isleworth, which was a certified truant industrial school.

Arthur’s brother Alfred Ernest Bush was serving as a Driver with the Royal Field Artillery and had recently married Ellen Scott. And Frederick was serving in the navy.

When Arthur enlisted, he was living at 26 Abbey Terrace, Abbey Road, Merton, Wimbledon, with his Aunt Harriet Searle. Previous to enlisting he was employed as a van guard / porter on the Railways. He was 4 ft 11 ¾ inches, weighing 102 lbs with brown hair and a fresh complexion, with a scar over his right eyebrow and his next of kin was listed as his Aunt Harriet Searle.

One can only assume that his father Edwin had also passed away before his enlistment and that Arthur had moved in with his closest relatives – his mothers brother Alfred and wife Harriet.

Arthur was posted to Brocton Camp, Cannock Chase, Staffordshire on the 20th September 1918
His Aunt – Harriet Searle had just received notification that her husband Alfred Sidney Searle, serving with the 2nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers had been killed on the 19th August in Flanders, leaving her with three young daughters. One can only wonder at her emotions that day -still grieving for husband, her nephew who had been living with them since the death of Arthur’s father Edwin was now called up to fight.