ARNOLD CALLIS
Private 242158
2/6th Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment
Killed in action - 21st March 1918
Arnold Callis' name was spelt incorrectly when it was inscribed onto the St Barnabas Church War Memorial. It was was written with "SS" on the end, when in fact his birth registration and war records all spell the surname with one "S".
Arnold was born in the autumn of 1897 at New Whittington, he was the son of Catherine (nee Hayes) and William Callis. His parents married in 1894, Catherine was a young widow with two young children at the time; Alice aged 8 and Charles aged 4 years.
Arnold's mother Catherine had married Charles Hubbard in 1885, he wasn't a local lad, he was born in Claypool, Lincolnshire. In 1891 the family were living on Bamford Street and Charles worked as a coal miner. A year later on 14th February 1892 Charles passed away, leaving his young wife to bring up Alice and toddler Charles. His burial took place at St Bartholomew's Church on 17th February 1892.
Arnold's service records have not survived, his medal card gives us a brief clue to his service as he was not awarded the 15 Star, thus we can surmise that he did not see active service in a theatre of war in between the dates of 5th August 1914 and 31st December 1915. A newspaper article states that he enlisted as soon as he was old enough, which would have been around 1915 as the minimum aged to enlist was 18 years (he could not serve overseas however until he was 19 years old).
On enlisting Arnold would be transferred to a training camp where he would be taught the basic skills he would need for the war he was about to enter. He would be given a medical to ensure that he was fit and fell within the required parameters for active service. He was given soldier number Private 242158 and attached to the 2/6th South Staffordshire Battalion.
This battalion was formed in Wolverhampton in September 1914 as a home service regiment. From 1915 the regiment was part of the 176th Brigade 59th Division (2nd North Midland Division). In July 1915 it moved to St Albans.
Voluntary enlistment was dwindling and large numbers of men were needed to sustain the war effort. All men were given the option to enlist voluntarily under the Derby Scheme which would allow them to attest to serve if needed at a later date, the closing date for this voluntary act was 15th December 1915. Once they had enlisted they were free to go back to civilian life until they were called for at a later date. Whether or not Arnold took up this offer is not known, but if he did he would have been placed in "Group 1". This group were given notice of their call up on 25th February 1916, they were mobilised on 28th March 1916.
In April 1916 the 2/6th South Staffordshire Battalion were sent overseas, but not to join the British Expeditionary Force (B.E.F) in France, they were sent to Dublin, Ireland to quell the Easter Uprising.
A call to arms....
The battalion were based near Genermont, moving in and out of the trenches. In March the war diary records that "rain fell heavily on two nights. Communication and front line trenches were very wet and muddy, in some places the mud being knee deep. Great difficulty was experienced in getting up water and rations owing to the mud and the men were very exhausted". Arnold may have tried his hand at household chores when for two days the battalion were "engaged cleaning clothing and equipment and making up deficiencies".
From 14th March to 5th April 1917 the German Army made its retreat to behind its newly built defence system known as the Hindenburg Line. The Germans had planned this manoeuvre with great detail, making sure that the British Armies would struggle to occupy their vacant positions. They made the land as difficult as possible to cross, for example when the 2/6th South Staffordshire Regiment arrived at the town of Mons-En-Chaussee they found "All houses, wells and fruit trees in this town were destroyed by the enemy before their retirement". The battalion were put to work remaking the roads and communication lines which had been German army had sabotaged.
In late September 1917 the battalion were present at the Battle of Polygon Wood, part of the infamous Third Battle of Ypres / Passchendaele. The battle took place just outside Ypres in the areas in between Menin Road and Polygon Wood. The battalion took their position at "Oxford Road", north of Ypres by 4am on 26th September and were ready to advance as support to the 59th Division attack. They moved forward into front line trenches at 5am and spent the next few days moving back and forth from those trenches. By the 30th September the war diary noted "During the time the battalion was in the front line trenches and in immediate support the casualties averaged about 20%".
The battalion were involved in yet another difficult battle when on the night of 28th/29th November they relieved the 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards south west of Bourlon Woods. They were then heavily bombarded by the enemy with heavy artillery and gas shells for two further days. The war diary records the terrible consequences of this attack as "During these two days the battalion suffered heavy casualties from gas, the whole of A C & D Coys. becoming casualties". The battalion were relieved and moved back into billets, the month of December being relatively quiet in comparison to the terrible times Arnold and his comrades had seen.
On Christmas Day 1917 the war diary comments "Church parades. Christmas dinner served by Companies. Extras and geese bought by Regimental Funds and grant of 600 Francs from Divisional Canteen".
I hope that Arnold and his chums had a peaceful and happy Christmas Day, I think that they more than deserved it.
1918....
The month of March began as many others had, with the battalion doing tours of the trenches and carrying out routine repairs "large working parties were found nightly for digging and wiring in defence systems". time was spent "cleaning up etc, bathing, specialist classes were commenced".
What happened next would have been unexpected for Arnold and his fellow men....
It was a foggy morning on 21st March 1918 when the German Army launched a massive attack on the British Army. Known as "Kaiserschlacht" or "The Kaiser's Battle", this attack was launched on a huge scale. Code named Operation Michael the Germans bombarded the B.E.F for five long hours. After the initial artillery attack 6,600 men of the German Army left their trenches and moved under cover of the dense fog to the British front line trenches.
The 2/6th South Staffordshire war diary tells of the day....
"Heavy enemy shelling of back areas commenced between 2 & 3am, also heavy bombardment by enemy of Front and Support line with H.E (high explosive) and gas shells from 4am - 8am. Enemy attacked in massed formation at 9am and succeeded in capturing the Front Line and also affected a flank move and got through to Railway Reserve and Battalion Headquarters. 23 Officers & about 600 O.R are "missing".
Despite such a terrible bombardment some of the front line was held until they had to give way due to the "flanks being exposed and heavy enemy attacks". They held their own until 1am on 23rd March when they had no choice but to withdraw to safety.
The battalion received a surprise visitor to their billets when on 30th March, they were inspected by His Majesty The King. The battalion also received the following letter from the Divisional Commander;
"Will you please convey to all ranks of your Division my admiration and thanks for the very gallant stand they made against overwhelming numbers of the enemy supported by a tremendous artillery.
The Division nobly did their duty on the right of the VIth. Corps. and from all accounts that have reached me have inflicted heavy loss upon the enemy.
I grieve for the heavy casualties among your gallant Officers, N.C.O's and men but the 59th Division have the satisfaction of knowing that they did their duty in as trying circumstances as can possibly happen in war".
Arnold was pronounced missing in action on 21st March 1918. He served through some of the most horrendous battles of the war, he was just 20 years old when he was killed.
He was buried by the German Army at Bullecourt as an "Unknown British Soldier". On 17th April 1924 his body was exhumed by the CWGC and identified using his clothing and his general service buttons. The exhumation file describes Arnold as being 5' 9" tall and having light brown hair, some of his teeth were missing but his remaining teeth were "very good and even".
Arnold was buried at the H.A.C Cemetery at Ecoust-St-Main in France, grave ref; Viii.B.34. His grave is marked with the sign of the cross and his family chose the following inscription to be added;
Life went on....
 |
| Derbyshire Times - Charles Hubbard death |
A new start....
In 1894 Catherine married William Callis a shoe and boot clicker from Sheffield. His job was to cut out the upper part of the shoe from the roll of leather, it was a very skilled job. He would become step father to Alice and Charles. Later that year the couple had their first child together; a son named William.
In 1896 another son was born, named Bertram he died aged just nine months old, he was buried at St Bartholomew's Church on 29th October 1896. Arnold would bring new hope for the family when he was born in 1897, followed by their first daughter Winifred in 1900.
On the 1901 census the Callis family are recorded as living at 11 Bamford Street, Arnold was 3 years old. His father William was 32 and his mother Catherine was 36 years of age. William was noted as being a "boot maker and repairer.... own account" meaning William worked for himself. He may well have run his business from his house or if he was doing well he might be able to afford a workshop to trade from. One thing we can be sure of, Arnold and his siblings would have quality footwear on their small feet.
On the 1901 census the Callis family are recorded as living at 11 Bamford Street, Arnold was 3 years old. His father William was 32 and his mother Catherine was 36 years of age. William was noted as being a "boot maker and repairer.... own account" meaning William worked for himself. He may well have run his business from his house or if he was doing well he might be able to afford a workshop to trade from. One thing we can be sure of, Arnold and his siblings would have quality footwear on their small feet.
1911 the eve of war....
Arnold was 13 years old by now, he had left school and was employed as a mouse trap maker. The family had grown, another sister for Arnold named Bertha she was born in 1902. The Callis family had moved home to live at 15 Bamford Street, this was a six roomed house not the usual two up, two down terraced house.
All of the children still lived at home; Alice and Charles Hubbard were in their twenties now, Charles worked as a colliery labourer above ground. William was 16 years old and employed as a bell lad, Winifred and Bertha were still attending school.
There was one more new member of the Callis family; a baby boy named Charles William Hubbard, recorded as "step grandson" to the head of the household. Baby Charles was the son of either Alice or Charles Hubbard.
The boot making/repair business appears to be doing well, the family have upgraded their home and Catherine is noted as "assisting in the business".
Arnold's war....
Arnold's service records have not survived, his medal card gives us a brief clue to his service as he was not awarded the 15 Star, thus we can surmise that he did not see active service in a theatre of war in between the dates of 5th August 1914 and 31st December 1915. A newspaper article states that he enlisted as soon as he was old enough, which would have been around 1915 as the minimum aged to enlist was 18 years (he could not serve overseas however until he was 19 years old).
On enlisting Arnold would be transferred to a training camp where he would be taught the basic skills he would need for the war he was about to enter. He would be given a medical to ensure that he was fit and fell within the required parameters for active service. He was given soldier number Private 242158 and attached to the 2/6th South Staffordshire Battalion.
This battalion was formed in Wolverhampton in September 1914 as a home service regiment. From 1915 the regiment was part of the 176th Brigade 59th Division (2nd North Midland Division). In July 1915 it moved to St Albans.
Voluntary enlistment was dwindling and large numbers of men were needed to sustain the war effort. All men were given the option to enlist voluntarily under the Derby Scheme which would allow them to attest to serve if needed at a later date, the closing date for this voluntary act was 15th December 1915. Once they had enlisted they were free to go back to civilian life until they were called for at a later date. Whether or not Arnold took up this offer is not known, but if he did he would have been placed in "Group 1". This group were given notice of their call up on 25th February 1916, they were mobilised on 28th March 1916.
In April 1916 the 2/6th South Staffordshire Battalion were sent overseas, but not to join the British Expeditionary Force (B.E.F) in France, they were sent to Dublin, Ireland to quell the Easter Uprising.
A call to arms....
After nine months away the battalion returned to the United Kingdom, based at Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire from January 1917 until they received the call "mobilise for war" in February. The war diary reads "24/2/17 instructions received under secret cover to embark at Southampton". The next day 31 Officers and 653 Other Ranks took a train journey from Codford Station, Wiltshire arriving at Southampton to embark on the HMS Viper by 11.30am. They arrived at Le Harve at 7am on 26th February 1917.
From 14th March to 5th April 1917 the German Army made its retreat to behind its newly built defence system known as the Hindenburg Line. The Germans had planned this manoeuvre with great detail, making sure that the British Armies would struggle to occupy their vacant positions. They made the land as difficult as possible to cross, for example when the 2/6th South Staffordshire Regiment arrived at the town of Mons-En-Chaussee they found "All houses, wells and fruit trees in this town were destroyed by the enemy before their retirement". The battalion were put to work remaking the roads and communication lines which had been German army had sabotaged.
In late September 1917 the battalion were present at the Battle of Polygon Wood, part of the infamous Third Battle of Ypres / Passchendaele. The battle took place just outside Ypres in the areas in between Menin Road and Polygon Wood. The battalion took their position at "Oxford Road", north of Ypres by 4am on 26th September and were ready to advance as support to the 59th Division attack. They moved forward into front line trenches at 5am and spent the next few days moving back and forth from those trenches. By the 30th September the war diary noted "During the time the battalion was in the front line trenches and in immediate support the casualties averaged about 20%".
The battalion were involved in yet another difficult battle when on the night of 28th/29th November they relieved the 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards south west of Bourlon Woods. They were then heavily bombarded by the enemy with heavy artillery and gas shells for two further days. The war diary records the terrible consequences of this attack as "During these two days the battalion suffered heavy casualties from gas, the whole of A C & D Coys. becoming casualties". The battalion were relieved and moved back into billets, the month of December being relatively quiet in comparison to the terrible times Arnold and his comrades had seen.
On Christmas Day 1917 the war diary comments "Church parades. Christmas dinner served by Companies. Extras and geese bought by Regimental Funds and grant of 600 Francs from Divisional Canteen".
I hope that Arnold and his chums had a peaceful and happy Christmas Day, I think that they more than deserved it.
The month of March began as many others had, with the battalion doing tours of the trenches and carrying out routine repairs "large working parties were found nightly for digging and wiring in defence systems". time was spent "cleaning up etc, bathing, specialist classes were commenced".
What happened next would have been unexpected for Arnold and his fellow men....
It was a foggy morning on 21st March 1918 when the German Army launched a massive attack on the British Army. Known as "Kaiserschlacht" or "The Kaiser's Battle", this attack was launched on a huge scale. Code named Operation Michael the Germans bombarded the B.E.F for five long hours. After the initial artillery attack 6,600 men of the German Army left their trenches and moved under cover of the dense fog to the British front line trenches.
The 2/6th South Staffordshire war diary tells of the day....
"Heavy enemy shelling of back areas commenced between 2 & 3am, also heavy bombardment by enemy of Front and Support line with H.E (high explosive) and gas shells from 4am - 8am. Enemy attacked in massed formation at 9am and succeeded in capturing the Front Line and also affected a flank move and got through to Railway Reserve and Battalion Headquarters. 23 Officers & about 600 O.R are "missing".
Despite such a terrible bombardment some of the front line was held until they had to give way due to the "flanks being exposed and heavy enemy attacks". They held their own until 1am on 23rd March when they had no choice but to withdraw to safety.
The battalion received a surprise visitor to their billets when on 30th March, they were inspected by His Majesty The King. The battalion also received the following letter from the Divisional Commander;
"Will you please convey to all ranks of your Division my admiration and thanks for the very gallant stand they made against overwhelming numbers of the enemy supported by a tremendous artillery.
The Division nobly did their duty on the right of the VIth. Corps. and from all accounts that have reached me have inflicted heavy loss upon the enemy.
I grieve for the heavy casualties among your gallant Officers, N.C.O's and men but the 59th Division have the satisfaction of knowing that they did their duty in as trying circumstances as can possibly happen in war".
Arnold was pronounced missing in action on 21st March 1918. He served through some of the most horrendous battles of the war, he was just 20 years old when he was killed.
 |
| CWGC burial record at Bullecourt German Cemetery |
He was buried by the German Army at Bullecourt as an "Unknown British Soldier". On 17th April 1924 his body was exhumed by the CWGC and identified using his clothing and his general service buttons. The exhumation file describes Arnold as being 5' 9" tall and having light brown hair, some of his teeth were missing but his remaining teeth were "very good and even".
Arnold was buried at the H.A.C Cemetery at Ecoust-St-Main in France, grave ref; Viii.B.34. His grave is marked with the sign of the cross and his family chose the following inscription to be added;
"EVER IN OUR THOUGHTS"
Private Arnold Callis 242158 was awarded the Victory and British Medals for his service.
Arnold was reported in the Derbyshire Times 4th May 1918 page 5. The article shows that his parents had not given up hope of his return. It included a photograph of Arnold and reads....
"Mr and Mrs Callis, 15 Bamford Street,
New Whittington, the parents of
Private Arnold Callis, South Stafford
Regiment are anxiously awaiting for further news
of their son, who has been missing since
March 21st 1918.
He is 20 years of age and in pre-war days belonged to
the B.P Scouts. When war broke out and he was old
enough to enlist he joined up. He crossed over to France
in February last year. He has two brothers serving
with the Colours. Before enlisting he worked at
Messrs. Locker's Waggon Works, New Whittington."
Life went on....
Catherine & William Callis Arnold's parents remained in New Whittington and no doubt continued to offer the boot repair service to the local people.
Catherine clung on to the hope that one day her beloved son would return to family in New Whittington. In January 1919, ten months after his death Catherine placed an article in the Derbyshire Times. She asked..
We will probably never know if anyone came forward and gave Catherine and William the news they longed for. But, five years on in 1924 her son was finally laid to rest, with their chosen words to remember him by inscribed on his gravestone.
William died on 6th December 1938 aged 70 years. Catherine lived on until 1953 when she died aged 88 years old.
The grave of William can be found in St Bartholomew's Church graveyard. The gravestone also remembers Arnold, the inscription reads;
 |
| Article with kind permission of the Derbyshire Times 25th January 1919 page 4 |
Catherine clung on to the hope that one day her beloved son would return to family in New Whittington. In January 1919, ten months after his death Catherine placed an article in the Derbyshire Times. She asked..
"Will any returned prisoner of war know anything about Pte. Arnold Callis 242128, 2/6th South Staffordshire Regt. Battalions runner missing since 21st June 1918 and stationed at Bullecourt, please communicate with Mrs Callis 15 Bamford Street, New Whittington, Chesterfield".
William died on 6th December 1938 aged 70 years. Catherine lived on until 1953 when she died aged 88 years old.
 |
| Photo taken by author |
The grave of William can be found in St Bartholomew's Church graveyard. The gravestone also remembers Arnold, the inscription reads;
"In loving memory of
WILLIAM
the beloved husband of
CATHERINE CALLIS
Died Dec. 6th 1938 aged 70 years
Also ARNOLD their dear son
South Staff Regt HQ Runner
killed in action March 21st 1918
aged 20 years
also
CATHERINE CALLIS"
The family home of 15 Bamford Street continued to be the Callis home, on the 1939 register Catherine was living there with her son Charles Hubbard and daughter Bertha.
William Callis Arnold's elder brother enlisted to the Royal Field Artillery (RFA) on 13th January 1915. He was given the soldier number 79939 and posted at Newcastle-Upon-Tyne to receive his training. His service records have survived and show that he was a gunner with the RFA.
William embarked from Southampton on 21st July 1915, arriving in Le Harve the following day. He returned to England in November 1918 and was posted to Woolwich on 24th December 1918. William served the whole of the war and was finally given his Protection Certificate and Certificate of Identity on 4th March 1919. He also received a disability certificate, but the reason for the disability was not recorded.
William was awarded the Victory and British medals along with the 15 Star for his service to King & Country.
Back home in New Whittington William married Alice Philpott on 1st January 1921. The marriage took place at St Bartholomew's Church, with Winifred Callis, Ambrose Knowles and David Bingham as witness.
The couple may have the following children; Winifred, Dorothy and named after his brave uncle; Arnold William Callis was born in 1924. Family life however was short lived as in William died in 1931 aged just 36 years old. He left three children under the age of 10 years.
Alice took in washing to make ends meet, on the 1939 Register she and her three children were living at 11 Bamford Street, New Whittington (the house that the Callis family occupied all those years ago in 1901). She lived on until 1972 when she died aged 88 years old.
Winifred Callis married Ambrose Knowles (one of the witnesses at William and Alice Callis' marriage). They married in 1923 and had two sons; Douglas and Alwyn. The family resided at 79 Handley Road, Ambrose worked as a machine tool fitter. Winifred lived to the age of 84 when she died in 1985, her husband Ambrose had died three years earlier in 1982.
Bertha Olive Callis married a Henry (Harry) Vickers in 1943. Henry had been widowed when his wife Beatrice had died in 1938. Harry had two daughters by Beatrice.
Bertha and Harry's wedding was covered in the Derbyshire Times (5th November 1943 page 6). The marriage took place at the Methodist Church on Wellington Street, New Whittington and was very well attended. Bertha was given away by her half brother Charles Hubbard and her sister Dorothy was one of the bridesmaids. Bertha's nephew Douglas Knowles was a groomsman. The reception was held at the Methodist Church and around 80 people were present, including the Mayor and Mayoress.
The couple lived at 167 Handley Road, not far from Bertha's sister Winfred. Harry died on 6th December 1960.
Bertha found happiness again when she married neighbour Charles Wilfred Arblaster. Charles lived at 213 Handley Road, his wife Winifred had died in 1957. He worked above ground at the colliery.
Bertha and Charles notched up 25 years of marriage until Bertha died on 8th February 1985 aged 82 years old, she still lived at 167 Handley Road. Charles died in 2001.
Arnold's half siblings -
Alice Hubbard may have married Frank Goodwin on 26th November 1911. The marriage took place at St Bartholomew's Church but Alice's fathers name was left blank on the marriage register entry. If this is correct then the couple had one son named Frank in 1914. What became of the Goodwin family after that date is not known.
Was Alice the mother of illegitimate Charles William Hubbard born 1910? without the birth certificate I cannot say for definite.
Charles William Hubbard (Snr) lived with his mother until he died in 1945. He was only 55 years old and appears never to have married.
*****
If you may be connected to this family or have any further information on Arnold Callis or his family please do either leave comments via the pen icon below or drop me an email.
I hope that I have not given details of living persons, if so please advise and I will remove immediately.
Please note all information has been taken from online indexes and sources. Due to the sheer numbers of people to be researched I am unable to purchase vital event certificates to confirm my research.
*****
With thanks for the kind permission of the Derbyshire Times to include the images of the relevant newspaper articles within this write up.....
Newspaper articles - Derbyshire Times 4th May 1918 p5
War diaries - piece 3021/9 2/6th South Staffordshire Regiment February 1917 - July 1918
2/6th South Staffordshire Regiment https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/units/321/south-staffordshire-regiment/
2/6th South Staffordhire Regiment http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-british-infantry-regiments-of-1914-1918/south-staffordshire-regiment/
Battle of St Quentin http://www.greatwar.co.uk/battles/somme/1918-somme-spring.htm
German retreat to the Hindenburg Line http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/battles/battles-of-the-western-front-in-france-and-flanders/pursuit-of-the-german-retreat-to-the-hindenburg-line/
Battle of Polygon Wood - interesting facts https://www.cwgc.org/learn/news-and-events/news/2017/09/15/13/13/7-facts-about-the-battle-of-polygon-wood
Battle of Bourlon Woods http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/battles/battles-of-the-western-front-in-france-and-flanders/the-cambrai-operations-1917-battle-of-cambrai/
Ref and further reading -
Census
Parish registers
Medal rolls
Soldiers who died in the Great war
Register of soldiers effects
Service record - www.ancestry.co.uk
With thanks for the kind permission of the Derbyshire Times to include the images of the relevant newspaper articles within this write up.....
Newspaper articles - Derbyshire Times 4th May 1918 p5
- Derbyshire Times 25th January 1919 p4
- Derbyshire Times 20th February 1892 p5
- Derbyshire Times 8th December 1939 p11
2/6th South Staffordshire Regiment https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/units/321/south-staffordshire-regiment/
2/6th South Staffordhire Regiment http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-british-infantry-regiments-of-1914-1918/south-staffordshire-regiment/
Battle of St Quentin http://www.greatwar.co.uk/battles/somme/1918-somme-spring.htm
German retreat to the Hindenburg Line http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/battles/battles-of-the-western-front-in-france-and-flanders/pursuit-of-the-german-retreat-to-the-hindenburg-line/
Battle of Polygon Wood - interesting facts https://www.cwgc.org/learn/news-and-events/news/2017/09/15/13/13/7-facts-about-the-battle-of-polygon-wood
Battle of Bourlon Woods http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/battles/battles-of-the-western-front-in-france-and-flanders/the-cambrai-operations-1917-battle-of-cambrai/
Shoe and boot clicker https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boot_and_shoe_clicker
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