Arthur Sidney Putt was born on 22nd October 1895 in Paignton, Devon. The youngest of five children, his parents were James and Elizabeth. James died when his son was jest five years old, leaving Elizabeth to raise the family in her own. By the time of the 1901 census, they Putts were living at 22 Roundham Cottages (four doors down from the fellow future soldier Charles Baker and his family), where Elizabeth was working as a charwoman to bring in the rent money.

When he finished his schooling, Arthur found employment as a wood chipper. At 15 years of age, he and his older brother, Frederick, were both bringing a wage into the household, and were the only two of Elizabeth’s children to still be living at home.

War broke out in the summer of 1914, and Arthur was one of the first to step up and play his part. He enlisted on 16th August, giving up his new job as a hairdresser, with the view of better prospects in the army. He joined the Royal Field Artillery, and was assigned to the 2nd Devon Depot Battery.

Gunner Putt’s initial medical report showed that he was 5ft 7ins (1.7m) tall, with good vision and normal physical development. He was sent for training, but a later, fuller, medical found that he was, in fact, not physically fit for army service. The report of the medical board of 27th April 1915 found that he had both rheumatism and valvular heart disease. He was dismissed from military service on 10th May 1915, after 267 days’ duty.

At this point, Arthur’s trail goes cold. It seems likely that he returned to Paignton, and to the life he had before the war, and the next record for him is that of his passing. He died on 14th May 1919, at the age of 23 years old.

Arthur Sydney Putt was buried in Paignton Cemetery, overlooking the town in which he had been born and raised.

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