Private Arthur Josiah Hinsley
202891 1/4th Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
Killed in Action 9th September 1916, aged 21
Lived at 7 Cleaver Street
Buried in Delville Wood Cemetery, France - V.K.1
St.Andrews Memorial, Burnley
Burnley Express 21st October 1916 - 27th October 1917

Formerly 4643 East Lancashire Regiment, born & enlisted Burnley. Son of Gilbert Arthur and Annie Hinsley of 7 Cleaver Street Burnley and brother to John Hinsley (killed in action 9/4/1918)

On the 9th September 1916 the 1/4th North Lancashire Regiment found themselves in an attack to firstly take a line of trenches running roughly from the outskirts of Ginchy to the east corner of Delville Wood, and secondly to capture Hop Alley and Ale Alley trenches).
The British artillery was in action all day and at 4p.m. the barrage started; at 4.45 the Division on the left attacked. Our objective was to capture Hop Alley with ”B” and “C” Companies, whilst the Lancashire Fusiliers were to go over with us and take Ale Alley. At 5.25 the Battalion went over and the first objective, Hop Alley was gained, but the second wave did not succeed in reaching Ale Alley, and as Hop Alley had become untenable under intense machine-gun barrage and gun fire, the remnant of “B” and “C” Companies withdrew and fell back to their original line. The casualties were heavy, 2 Officers killed, 22 other ranks killed, 8 Officers wounded, 118 other ranks wounded and 79 rank and file missing. As a result of these heavy losses the Battalion was withdrawn from the front to the support line and rested for the day.

WOUNDED AND MISSING Mother Desires News (Burnley Express 21/10/16)

First reported “wounded,” and now reported “wounded and missing,” Mrs Hinsley, of 7 Cleaver Street, Burnley, is very anxious to secure definite news of her son, Private Arthur Hinsley (No 6281, late 4643), of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. Private Hinsley, who was 21 years of age last Christmas, was formerly a driver on the Burnley trams, and enlisted on February 8th. He came home on his last leave the week after the July holidays, and went to the front on August 7th. A month and two days later he is reported to have been wounded, and now to be missing. He was connected with St Andrew’s. A good runner, he took part in the races at Aldershot earlier in the year before the King. His brother, John, has been serving with the Royal Field Artillery since May of last year (1915).
One of Arthur’s chums, in a letter home, says: - “We were good chums. We were together in the trenches up to Saturday dinner, and then we got parted. Hard luck! He got took as a runner, Then he went over the top. I never saw him after. This is about three or four weeks ago. When we came out of the trenches I missed him. I enquired about him, because we were the best of chums. I heard nothing for a week. Then somebody told me he had been killed. Then I heard he was shell shocked, and in hospital. I also enquired here, and they seem to think he is wounded…..I know it is hard, but look on the bright side. I have missed him a great deal. We used to share everything we had. He was a nice boy. We always got on together. I only hope God will protect him wherever he may be.”