Sgt Arthur Abbott, 16 DLI, is seated at left, with unidentified colleagues. Very interesting to compare with the 1942 16 DLI Sergeants’ photograph, on which Sgt Abbott also features, this photograph seems to have taken later in the war. Note the three arm of service strips on his battledress sleeve, just above the sergeant chevrons, which denotes 139 Brigade. Details on the other NCOs featured most welcome
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To me, the NCO at top left seems to look like Thomas Dabner MM, who was killed in action in September 1944--see the Roll of Honour section of the site. Can anyone confirm this? Also note the medal ribbon medal of the NCO at bottom right. Given that Arthur Abbott was from Warwickshire, it’s probable that he served in C Company at the start of his service with 16 DLI. According to several veterans, most of the recruits from the Midlands went to C Company; most of those from Yorkshire to A Company and the Durham men to B and D.
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This brief biography of Sgt Abbott is courtesy of his son Mike:
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Arthur Abbott was born on 30th January 1910 at Whitehouse Cottages, Minworth, near Sutton Coldfield in Warwickshire. Apart from his 1940-46 war service in the Durham Light Infantry, he lived all his life in Minworth.
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He attended Minworth Primary and Secondary Schools, leaving at 14 to work in the Sandpits at Curdworth, later moving to Fields Nurseries at Tyburn. He joined the overhead cable division of Balfour & Beattie in 1933 and then moved to the Birmingham Tame and Rea Authority at their Coleshill Works, which was under construction at the time.
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Returning to them postwar, he held held many jobs with the Authority: after 1946: the Mechanical workshops from 1950, the Saltley Gas liquor plant from 1958 and at the Mechanical workshops in Minworth from 1962.
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He was a keen sportsman, playing for the local social club and after finishing playing became their secretary. He was the Chairman of Social club's management committee when the club opened in 1937. A keen gardener, he won many prizes at the annual flower show.
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On returning from his war service in December 1945 (see his discharge certificate at right), he married Elsie Laura Hilder in Hastings on 16th June 1946 at Red Lake Church. The couple subsequently had three children.
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Arthur Abbott died on 13 July 1992 at Minworth, Warwickshire.
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