Arthur Tom was presumed missing until word came that he was a prisoner of war. Unfortunately it wasn't true because word then came that he was dead but his body was never found. He is commemorated in Loos, France, and here in his birth town of Skipton on the cenotaph. His name is also found several times in the old local paper, the Craven Herald . He was awarded, like many, the Star, the British and the Victory. I think they have the nickname of Pip, Squeak and Wilfred. His brother Frank, private 7044 of the Scots Guards, returned but with injuries and I remember my aunty telling me that she could remember, when she was a little girl, that he would suddenly cry out in pain and then sob quietly until it passed. He was awarded the Victory and the British. Arthur Tom went into battle with a photo of my grandfather and his brother as little boys and surprisingly the photo survived but how it found its way back to my family is a tale in itself. Apparently it was found on the battlefield by a total stranger who, when he came home, had it printed in a newspaper where, somehow, a neighbour of my great grandmother spotted it and showed it to her. I never found the name of that wonderful soldier but I do have the photo that he felt was important enough to bring home. Thank you whoever you are xxx
Debbie Jarvie