9374, Corporal, 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment
Missing in Action on the 30th October 1914 aged 25
Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium
Arthur was a professional soldier who was drafted to the BEF from South Africa at the outbreak of the war. The battalion arrived at Zeebrugge on the 7th October 1914. He is believed to have been killed at the First Battle of Ypres during the battalion withdrawal from Zandevoorde.
On the 30th October 1914, the battalion came under shell fire in the early morning and , as trenches had not been dug during the night, the men took shelter in ditches and became a little dispersed. At 7.30am the 7th Cavalry Brigade was driven from Zandevoorde, which left the battalion's right flank exposed. The Germans occupied Zandevoorde at 10am and an enemy artillery battery came out into the open about 900 yards away and opened fire, but was soon overcome. The battalion, along with the Royal Scots Fusiliers were ordered to retire and by dusk were located behind the Gheluveldt -Zandevoorde Road, where the Companies had become somewhat intermingled. Arthur Bryant was reported amongst the missing men that day but was not confirmed as killed until August 1915.
His body was never found and he has no known grave. Arthur's name is recorded on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium.
Medal Entitlement: 1914 Star, British War Medal & Victory Medal