Lieutenant Arthur Frederick Halstead
15th Battalion, Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own) attached 1st Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers
Killed in Action
Date of Birth: 26 May 1893
Place of Birth: Rosario de Santa Fe, Argentine Republic
Date of Death: 26th June 1915 aged 22
Buried: Buried west of the Saghir (Dene) Mullah, Gallipolli. Commemorated at Helles Memorial, Turkey Grave\Panel Ref: Panel 197. Remembered on the family gravestone Teignmouth Cemetery, Salcome War Memorial and Sale War Memorial
Awarded the 1914 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal
Arthur Frederick Halstead was born on the 26 May 1893 in Rosario de Santa Fe, Argentine Republic.
Arthur's mother was Mary Elizabeth Halstead née King, born c.1867 in Salcombe, Devon.
His father, (also called Arthur Frederick Halstead), was born in Penistone, Yorkshire, (1860-1937). Both Arthur's father and his grandfather Joshua were locomotive engineers.
Rosario Central Córdoba former railway station, in Rosario, Argentina. Pablo D. Flores (CC BY-SA 3.0)
From 1891-1895 Arthur's father was Locomotive Superintendent and Permanent Way Engineer with the British-owned Córdoba and Rosario Railway, in the Argentine Republic.
Arthur was born in Rosario in 1893 whilst his father held that position.
Arthur's sister was Florence Mary Halstead, Florence was born in Salcombe, Devon on the 18th July in 1896.
Also in 1896 his father became Locomotive Superintendent and Traffic Manager of the Rio Tinto Railway, Huelva, Santa Fe, Spain (the Rio Tinto Mine was at that time the world's leading producer of copper and the company used 143 engines,3000 trucks and 40 coaches to transport miners, the general public and minerals).
The Halstead family later returned to England and Arthur's father rejoined Messrs. Beyer, Peacock er, Peacock and Company, Ltd. at Gorton Foundry where he had served his appenticeship, now his role was manager and secretary, and the foundry had grown, produced several thousand locomotives and by 1914 was employing 2300 people.
Rifle Brigade cap badge
Whilst Arthur's father worked at the foundry in Manchester his family lived at "Cringlewood", 10 Irlam Road, Sale, Cheshire and Arthur attended Sale High School (he later attended Shewsbury School).
Arthur became an articled pupil with "Jones, Crewson and Newatt" a firm of chartered accountants in Manchester but enlisted at the outbreak of war on 30th August 1914. He was killed in action in Gallipoli on 28th June 1915 aged 22.
His father held his position at the foundry throughout the War and retired in 1919 aged 60.
Arthur's parents then moved to Teignmouth where his sister Florence married Reginald Wheeler Dobson on 4th February 1922 in The Parish Church.
Florence and Reginald were living at Fairlawn in New Road Teignmouth in 1939 where Reginald was a retired Cotton Merchant's Manager and the Teignmouth ARP head warden and Florence was also an ARP warden. Florence died in Torquay, Devon on 1st November 1975.
Arthur's parents lived at Ravensbourne, Higher Woodway Road in Teignmouth. His mother died on 12 December 1934, and on 19 November 1937 Arthur's father died. They are buried in plot Pp192 at Teignmouth Cemetery.
The headstone inscription reads:
In Loving Memory of Mary Elizabeth Halstead 4th Feb 1867 - 12th Dec 1934
AND Arthur Frederick Lt. 15th Rifle Brigade attached 29th Division, Son of A.F.& M.E. Halstead, Fell in action Gallipoli 20th June 1915, aged 22
And of Arthur Frederick Halstead 9th July 1860 - 19th Nov 1937
Arthur's entry on the De Ruvignys Roll of Honour
Halstead, Arthur Frederick, Lieut., 15th Rifle Brigade, attached to Ist Battn. Royal Dublin Fusiliers, Only s. of Arthur Frederick Chester, M.I.Mech.E., A.C.I.S. b. Rosario de Sante Fe, Argentine Republic, 26 May. 1893 educ. High School, Sale, and Shrewsbury School; was an articled pupil with the firm of Jones, Crewdson and Youatt, of Manchester, chartered accountants, but enlisted in the 8th Rifle Brigade following the outbreak of war, 30 Aug. 1914; was given a commission two months later, 1 Nov., and promoted Lieut. the 14th of that month.
Arthur's entry on the De Ruvignys Roll of Honour
He was killed in action on the night of 28-29 June, 1915, during a counter-atttack by the Turks on the British lines, and was buried on the west side of the Saghir (Dene) Mullah, Gallipoli; unm.
His commanding officer wrote to his father that on this occasion he was sent out with a platoon to reinforce the left of our line. lt was a very dark night and a very unfortunate one, as we lost 10 officers killed and one wounded"; and added: The regt. being in the open and enveloped by Turks, I should like to tell you it was due to the gallantry of your son and other oficers on that flank that a very serious situation did not arise.
Sergt. P Doyle, No. 7 Platoon, X Coy., in sending Lieut. Halstead's identity disc, said "his untimely end created a terrible blow to us (the platoon), who absolutely idolised and admired him for his fearlessness. There is scarely a day that passes in the trenches but what his name is not mentioned in loving memory by those with whom he came in contact." Lieut..
Halstead was a fine athlete and had won his colours at Shrewsbury both for long distance running and cricket. He was a member of the Liverpool Ramblers, Brooklands Cricket Club and Sale Golf Club.
