Snowden, Arthur Cook
Photo by Steve Snowden, his grandson
48793 Sapper, 91st Field Company, Royal Engineers
Born 1895 in Scotter
Son of Adam (a coal dealer from Westwoodside) and Ann (Anna; nee Cook of Scotter)
Family lived on West Street
Served as an apprentice and became a shoeing smith
Enlisted 8th September 1914 at Gainsborough, claiming to be 20 years old, and sent to Lincoln
Described as 5 foot 6 inches tall, weighing 130 pounds, blue eyes, brown hair, Church of England
Classed ‘proficient blacksmith’ with pay of a shilling a day
Arrived in France on 10th July 1915
Early in 1916 the ‘Gainsborough News’ reported he was:-
'home on furlough from the trenches in France and was involved in heavy fighting'
Admitted to hospital on 23rd April 1916 and rejoined his unit 2 weeks later
In October daily rate increased by 4 pence to a ‘skilled rate of engineer pay’
Wounded at duty on 22nd August 1917
On 22nd September the ‘Lincolnshire Chronicle’ stated:-
‘Sapper Arthur Snowden is having a few days leave from France. He volunteered as soon as the war began in August 1914 (being at the time apprenticed to a blacksmith)…. and has been through much of the fighting. This is his second leave since he went to France in the spring of 1915. He has been gassed once and wounded once.’
Two weeks later the ‘Gainsborough News’ also reported his wounding
On 9th November 1918, 2 days before the Armistice, again admitted to hospital
Joined the 59th Field Company on 29th March 1919 and demobilized on 22nd May
Became a blacksmith and farrier
In 1921 married his sister-in-law Maud Rodgers (sister of Thomas; South face)
Died from pneumonia at Mattersey on 15th October 1929 aged 34
Buried in Scotter churchyard as is his father
His mother and his wife buried in Scotter Cemetery
Brother of Frank
Brother of Harris
Brother of Walter