Intelligence has been recieved that Pte. Arthur Maiden, of the “Pals” (King’s Liverpool), was killed in action on July 30th in the Trones Wood fighting. Pte. Maiden, who was in his 23rd year, was a son of the late Mr. Enoch Maiden and Mrs. Elizabeth Maiden, of Willaston, where he was born. He received his education at the local school and prior to the war was learning gardening at Earl Manver’s seat, Thoresby, Nottinghamshire. Then he returned home, enlisted in the 3rd Battalion of the “Pals,” went out to France with the first draft in November, 1915, and had since seen a considerable amount of fighting. A brother-in-law – Pte. S. Burkey – went to France at the same time as the deceased, and has come out all right up to the present.
Private Maiden was formerly a member of the Willaston Football Club, which participated in the Wirral Combination matches. He was also a member of Christ Church Willaston.
Private Arthur Maiden served as part of “2 Company” in the 19th Battalion of the King’s (Liverpool) Regiment.
The Fighting in Trones Wood was an action undertaken as part of the wider Somme Offensive in 1916. Beginning on 8th July, the action was an attempt by British forces to clear the area of foritifed German positions in the South-East that barred the way to Longueval and Guillemont. The clearance of these positions would facilitate a second phase of advance.
Fighting lasted just over a week, until the 14th of July, when the area was captured and subsequently reinforced by British forces in anticipation of future German counter attacks.
Private Arthur Maiden is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing in France.
Last Posts 