Remembering Private Arthur James Manuel—DOW September 25, 1918

Arthur James Manuel was born at Canso, Guysborough County, on February 4, 1893, the oldest of Mary (McNeary) and William Manuel’s children. William was lost at sea before the end of the decade and Mary was left to care for three young sons. As a young man, Arthur went to work in the fishery but was soon caught up in the events of the First World War as he entered adulthood.

Private Arthur James Manuel

On November 8, 1917, Arthur completed his medical examination at Canso, as required under the terms of the Military Service Act (1917). Four months later, he reported to Halifax, NS, and attested with the 1st Depot Battalion, Nova Scotia Regiment, on March 5, 1918. One month later, he departed for England and was assigned to the 17th Reserve Battalion, Camp Bramshott, upon arriving overseas.

Arthur spent the remainder of the spring and early summer in training at Bramshott. On August 29, he received a transfer to the 25th Battalion and immediately departed for France. One week later, he joined the unit’s ranks at Chérisy. Throughout the following days, small groups of reinforcements continued to arrive in camp as the battalion rebuilt its strength following combat at Amiens and Arras during the previous month.

On the evening of September 19, the 25th returned to the front line southeast of Inchy-en-Artois, where its soldiers were subjected to constant German artillery fire. In subsequent days, personnel resisted several German counterattacks and launched raids on German posts in No Man’s Land, in an effort to secure the area in front of its trenches. Casualties were light but consistent throughout the tour.

On the morning of September 25, German forces launched an artillery barrage on the 25th’s trenches as its soldiers advanced toward the battalion’s position. While supporting Allied artillery assisted the soldiers in repelling the attack, the day’s casualties—six “other ranks” (OR) killed and 16 OR wounded—were the tour’s heaviest losses. Private Arthur James Manuel was one of the fatalities, “wounded by  enemy shrapnel previous to an attack” and “evacuated to the rear” for treatment. He “died [of wounds] before reaching a dressing station.” Arthur was laid to rest in Mœuvres Communal Cemetery, France.

Arthur’s story is one of 64 profiles contained in Bantry Publishing’s First World War Honour Roll of Guysborough County, Nova Scotia, Volume II: 1918 - 1937, available for purchase online at bantrypublishing.ca .