Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Circumstances of Death Registers – Source: Library and Archives Canada. CIRCUMSTANCES OF DEATH REGISTERS, FIRST WORLD WAR Surnames: Bark to Bazinet. Mircoform Sequence 6; Volume Number 31829_B016716. Reference RG150, 1992-93/314, 150. Page 887 of 1058.

Biography – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

Post Card – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

Picture of Arthur Richard Batson – "Arthur in his Canadian Infantry Uniform"

Christmas Card – "A Christmas card sent home by Arthur"

Letter from a friend – Text of letter: Beaufort,Waltham Abbey,Kasex, England, Nov 25th. 1918. My Dear Sir, With feelings of great distress I write you in condolence of the loss you have sustained in the death of your son, Capt A.R.Batson. Your son has made his home with us when on leave from France. We last saw him on the day he received his decorations from our King at Buckingham Palace at the end of July. Our letters to him have just been returned marked "Killed in action". On receiving the end news I went into London to the Canadian Record Office to see if I could obain any further information, but beyond the fact that he fell on Sep 2nd I learned nothing more. I have written to the Captain of his Batt. in France but have no additional information. I shall not fail in enquires, and as I am Chaplain to one of our home Hospitals I shall live in the daily hope of hearing something from some of the men of his Batt. We met with your son in the year 1915 and have seen much of him since then. His letters were always an inspiration to me, and conversation with him never drifted into anything but of an elevating character. He is the finest type of man I have come in contact with during the whole period of war. And he was, above all, a true Christian. If there is any consolation for you in your great loss it must be to know that he did his duty with the leanest motives, and did it well; also that his personal example was such that all men in contact with him were all the better men as a result of such example. He left a small parcel with us with the request that should anything happen to him we would forward it to you. You will see, on its arrival, that he addressed it himself leaving it simply to be posted by us. I have just posted it so you should receive it by the same mail as this letter. We grieve over his loss as though he were one of our own. Yours very sincerely, Robi Hindle

Letter of Condolence – Text of a letter of condolence to the Batson family: Dear Mrs. Batson - It is with a sad heart that I offer the sincere sympathies of all the officers and men of the 20th Battalion in losing your son, Captain Arthur Batson. MC. Your son was killed during our recent advance on September 2nd. He and another of our officers were consulting together when a shell landed between them instantly killing both. Captain Batson was not only a most efficient officer, who had rendered valuable service to the battalion on numerous occasions, but as good upright type of manhood your son was a shining example. He was loved and admired by all the officers and men and personally I was proud to claim him as a friend. Naturally, his loss is keenly felt by all who knew him as well. He had been thru so many rough battle, with the 6th and had always came out safe and sound that the news of his death was in a blow to us all. No doubt, Col. Page, our commanding officer...

Letter from the Minister's Office – Letter from the Minister of Militia and Defence in Ottawa

Request for headstone engraving – Inscription: HE IS DEAD BUT NOT FORGOTTEN DIED THAT WE MAY LIVE

Memorial plaque – "Memorial plaque sent to Arthur's parents after his death in the First World War."

Military Cross – Military Cross awarded to Captain Arthur Batson, in its original case (right).

British War Medal – British War Medal donated by Doug Batson of Gander, Newfoundland.

Victory Medal (Inter-Allied War Medal) – Victory Medal (Inter-Allied War Medal) donated by the Batson family of Gander, Newfoundland.

1914-1915 Star – 1914-1915 Star donated by the Batson family of Gander, Newfoundland.

Newspaper Clipping – source Calgary Herald. September 19, 1918, page 13

Grave Marker – Captain Batson's grave marker, as of April 2011. The inscription requested by the family can be seen at the bottom at the marker.