Private Arthur Batley
302174 (5933 ) 2nd Manchester Regiment, A Coy
Formerly 5170 East Lancashire Regiment
Missing in Action 2nd October 1918, aged 20
Lived at 149 Branch Road
Commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial, France
Burnley Express 8th February 1919 - 1st March 1919- 19th July 1919

This man was my Grandfather's cousin. This is to let you know that I nominated him for his name to be read out at the Tower of London yesterday (13th Sept 2014), and I attended to hear it. It was very moving.

I have done a little research on Joncourt, and it seems it broke through the last organised German defense line to the rear of the Hindenberg line (sometimes known as the Beaurevoir-Fonsomme line) before the war moved into its final fluid stage. It is the action where the poet Wilfred Owen, an officer in the 2nd Manchesters was awarded the MC, a month before his death.

(Courtesy of Ian Johnson)

His brother John Percival Batley served in the Royal Navy (J/68775 H.M.S. Titania)