Lieutenant John Frederick Arnfield Royal Welch Fusiliers, Merioneth Volunteer Regiment, Home Guard
The Man John Frederick Arnfield was born during the third quarter of 1883 at Glyndwr Buildings, Bridge St, Dolgellau, Merionethshire, Wales. Son of George, a Stationer and Anne nee Hughes, he was Baptised on 9th December.
John was one of six children, Edith (1882 - 1976), Maud (1886 - ), Vera (1887 - 1932), Beatrice (1888 - 1955) and George Rowland Hughes (1889 - ).
The 1891 census shows the family at the same address with two servants, George sadly passed away later in the same year aged just 60, leaving Anne to bring up the children. By 1901, Anne and her family were living at the Glyndwr Hotel, and she listed as head of house and a Music and Stationery Dealer. John, now aged 17 is shown as an Assistant Stationer, having completed his education.
When he became 18 in 1901, John enlisted into the 7th (Merionethshire & Montgomeryshire) Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers, a Welsh unit of Britain's Territorial Force that had been raised in 1897. His service number was 2060. The 1911 census show him as the head of the house and his occupation as Music Dealer, Stationer and Newsagent, his mother Anne now assisting with running the business. The address is given once again as Glyndwyr Buildings which appears to be the name for the Hotel or vice versa.
In Army Order 120 of 1st April 1913 when aged 30, John was awarded his Territorial Force Efficiency Medal as a Sergeant and the following year, 1914, saw the start of World War I in August and during the final quarter his marriage to Margaret Gladys Roberts, in Aston, Birmingham. They had two children, Denis Glynne born on 21st February 1915 and Beryl (1917 – 2020).
It seems John saw service at home for the duration of the War and on 8th March 1917, was Commissioned as Temporary 2nd Lieutenant in the Merionethshire Volunteer Regiment.
Following the War, he returned to his business and in 1936, now aged 53 retired and moved to Chester. Having been a keen tennis player for Merionethshire, he joined the Glan Aber Tennis Club, Westminster Park in Chester and continued playing until he was 58. He was also a keen golfer and played for 25 years with the Upton-by-Chester Golf Club.
Following the outbreak of World War II in September 1939, John was Commissioned as a Lieutenant into the 6th Cheshire (Chester) Battalion, Home Guard on 1st February 1941, serving throughout the War for which he was awarded the Defence Medal.
Margaret and john lived at 50 Abbot’s Park, Chester and during the last quarter of 1960 Margaret passed away. John lived a further seven years and died on 17th March 1967 at the Royal Infirmary, Chester aged 83. His funeral and cremation service were held at Chester Crematorium on 21st March and conducted by the Reverend J Moelwyn Jones. Beryl organised his funeral and his ashes were taken by her to be laid to rest.
John was one of six children, Edith (1882 - 1976), Maud (1886 - ), Vera (1887 - 1932), Beatrice (1888 - 1955) and George Rowland Hughes (1889 - ).
The 1891 census shows the family at the same address with two servants, George sadly passed away later in the same year aged just 60, leaving Anne to bring up the children. By 1901, Anne and her family were living at the Glyndwr Hotel, and she listed as head of house and a Music and Stationery Dealer. John, now aged 17 is shown as an Assistant Stationer, having completed his education.
When he became 18 in 1901, John enlisted into the 7th (Merionethshire & Montgomeryshire) Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers, a Welsh unit of Britain's Territorial Force that had been raised in 1897. His service number was 2060. The 1911 census show him as the head of the house and his occupation as Music Dealer, Stationer and Newsagent, his mother Anne now assisting with running the business. The address is given once again as Glyndwyr Buildings which appears to be the name for the Hotel or vice versa.
In Army Order 120 of 1st April 1913 when aged 30, John was awarded his Territorial Force Efficiency Medal as a Sergeant and the following year, 1914, saw the start of World War I in August and during the final quarter his marriage to Margaret Gladys Roberts, in Aston, Birmingham. They had two children, Denis Glynne born on 21st February 1915 and Beryl (1917 – 2020).
It seems John saw service at home for the duration of the War and on 8th March 1917, was Commissioned as Temporary 2nd Lieutenant in the Merionethshire Volunteer Regiment.
Following the War, he returned to his business and in 1936, now aged 53 retired and moved to Chester. Having been a keen tennis player for Merionethshire, he joined the Glan Aber Tennis Club, Westminster Park in Chester and continued playing until he was 58. He was also a keen golfer and played for 25 years with the Upton-by-Chester Golf Club.
Following the outbreak of World War II in September 1939, John was Commissioned as a Lieutenant into the 6th Cheshire (Chester) Battalion, Home Guard on 1st February 1941, serving throughout the War for which he was awarded the Defence Medal.
Margaret and john lived at 50 Abbot’s Park, Chester and during the last quarter of 1960 Margaret passed away. John lived a further seven years and died on 17th March 1967 at the Royal Infirmary, Chester aged 83. His funeral and cremation service were held at Chester Crematorium on 21st March and conducted by the Reverend J Moelwyn Jones. Beryl organised his funeral and his ashes were taken by her to be laid to rest.
The Story The medal pair awarded to John Frederick Arnfield were acquired from E-Bay on 12th July 2023 and of interest because of the simplicity of the pair and a reasonable price.
Research on Ancestry.UK, Forces War Records, Wills and the British Newspaper Archives enabled a reasonable biography to be pieced together.
Despite searching no record could be found of any World War I campaign medals being awarded to John, thus is likely he saw no overseas service. Also of interest is that despite his Territorial Force Efficiency Medal being listed in Army Orders as such, in April 1913, his medal is actually a Territorial Efficiency Medal, not instituted until 1921 when the Territorial Force became the Territorial Army. The medal is correctly engraved.
Further research revealed that this may have been a replacement medal, issued after 1921 as the government of the day decided, once stocks of the TFEM had run out to issue TEMs, to save money. This did cause problems as recipients were awarded a medal for an organisation they had not served in, Territorial Force, not Territorial Army! Questions were apparently asked in The House.
His Home Guard details were also located on FWR together with a reference to his service in his obituary published in the Cheshire Observer in 1967.
It is possible there are first war medals missing from this group for any number of reasons, however the research indicates not and it is just as possible this is John Arnfield’s only entitlement. Either way he is now remembered.
Research on Ancestry.UK, Forces War Records, Wills and the British Newspaper Archives enabled a reasonable biography to be pieced together.
Despite searching no record could be found of any World War I campaign medals being awarded to John, thus is likely he saw no overseas service. Also of interest is that despite his Territorial Force Efficiency Medal being listed in Army Orders as such, in April 1913, his medal is actually a Territorial Efficiency Medal, not instituted until 1921 when the Territorial Force became the Territorial Army. The medal is correctly engraved.
Further research revealed that this may have been a replacement medal, issued after 1921 as the government of the day decided, once stocks of the TFEM had run out to issue TEMs, to save money. This did cause problems as recipients were awarded a medal for an organisation they had not served in, Territorial Force, not Territorial Army! Questions were apparently asked in The House.
His Home Guard details were also located on FWR together with a reference to his service in his obituary published in the Cheshire Observer in 1967.
It is possible there are first war medals missing from this group for any number of reasons, however the research indicates not and it is just as possible this is John Arnfield’s only entitlement. Either way he is now remembered.
John Arnfield's Territorial Efficiency Medal naming
Medal Details
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- Territorial Efficiency Medal: 2060 SGT. J.F.ARNFIELD. R.W.F.
Page last updated 9 Aug 23
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