Captain Arthur John Wakerley, 1st/4th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment

Jack Wakerley

Arthur John (Jack) Wakerley, was born 31 October 1893, was educated at Stoneygate School, Leicester, and later at The Leys School, Cambridge. He passed the preliminary examination of the Royal Society of British Architects, but then his wish to become a Wesleyan Minister supervened and he went up to Peterhouse, Cambridge, with a view subsequently to studying for the Methodist ministry. There he joined the University OTC, but interrupted his studies to take up a commission as Second Lieutenant in the 4th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment, being promoted to Lieutenant on 25 May 1915, and some time later to the rank of Captain.

Leicestershire Regiment Cap Badge

Jack Wakerley was killed on 8 June 1917 at the age of twenty-three whilst leading a raid at Lens in France.

The British High Command had discoverd that too many troops were being shot in the back by German snipers who had been hiding as the British advanced. In order to stop this practice the 'mopping up' operation was created. 'D Coy' of the 1/4th Leicesters were orderd to mop up after an attack by the 4th Lincolns on 8th June. Jack Wakerley was their C.O. and led the raid. There were many casualties that night.

In a letter to his parents, his Commanding Officer described Captain Wakerley as showing "... the finest example of unswerving devotion" and that "he showed great ability, and was thorough in all his work and absolutely reliable".

On 15 February 1918, his parents were notified by the War Office that Captain Wakerley had been buried in Caidron Military Cemetery, Lievin, south-west of Lens, and that his grave was registered and marked with a durable wooden cross with an inscription bearing full particulars - a photograph of the grave with its cross was enclosed.

Jack's Grave - Loos Cemetery

He was eventually laid to rest in the Loos British Cemetery details of which can be found on the link below.

The gravestone reads:-
Captain/ A J Wakerley/ Leicestershire Regiment/ 8th June 1917 Age 23/Beloved Son Of/ Arthur & B E Wakerley/ A Good Soldier Of/ Jesus Christ.

Captain Arthur John Wakerley
A Preacher Of Much Promise
Killed In Action Near Lens France
8th June 1917 Aged 23
This Desk And Rail Are Erected
By His Father And Mother In Loving Memory