247103 2nd.Lt. Arthur James Stiles British Army 8th Btn. Royal Fusiliers from:Acton, London (d.3rd August 1916) Arthur Stiles was born in Acton on the 12th March 1896, son of James Burford Stiles and his wife Helen Mary. The family lived at 8 Birkbeck Road, Acton. His father was a Manager in the Coal Trade. The 1901 Census shows Arthur as having six sisters. They may have been fairly affluent as they also had a servant. In June 1914 at the age of 18 years he commenced employment with the London County & Westminster Bank, working as a clerk at the Oxford Street branch.
Arthur enlisted with the British Army in February 1915, he served as a Lance Corporal in the Honourable Artillery Company and later in January 1916 was commissioned as Second Lieutenant with the 8th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. He was killed in action on the 3rd of August 1916 aged 20 years during the Battle of The Somme, just one week after arriving at the Western Front. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Monument, Somme, France. He is remembered on the War Memorial, St Mary's Church, Acton, London.
His commanding officer later wrote, 'he was killed while leading his platoon with the utmost gallantry, and inspired by his splendid spirit they reached their objective absolutely successful.'
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