Calvert, Alfred Arthur

Corporal, ARTHUR CALVERT 12/1203. Born October 1889, Arthur was the eldest of two sons to Arthur and Sarah Calvert of 33 Sutton Street, Spring Bank, Hull. He had previously served his country and when war was declared would have been mobilized anyway, but chose to enlist on 7th October 1914 joining the 12th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment, ‘The Sportsmen’, 3rd Hull Pals. His death was the result of a tragic accident. At stand-to on the morning of 14th April 1916 a Private Smith climbed down from the parapet where he had been at watch for signs of the enemy out in no man’s land. He switched on the safety catch and commenced cleaning his rifle. He must have accidentally knocked both safety and trigger, for as he cleaned the bolt the rifle fired and the bullet struck Arthur Calvert in the left buttock. Arthur was hospitalised and a Military Hearing heard evidence on 2nd May, eventually clearing him of any suspicion of the wound being self-inflicted. It mattered not. Arthur died the day after. The wound became infected and it killed him. He is buried in Ste. Marie Cemetery; he was 27 years old. He is listed on the Haltemprice Street Roll of Honour. For some reason his death is recorded in Soldiers Died Records, but not by the CWGC?