A merry Pig doeth good like a medicine (part 2)

Arthur Hamilton Bardswell was born and brought up in Surbiton where his father, Charles W Bardswell, worked as a barrister and Recorder for Kingston upon Thames (this meant that Charles could sit as a part time judge in a Crown Court). Arthur was given a good education – on the 1891 census, he is a student at Repton School, Derby – and he became a solicitor in the firm of Longueville and Co in Oswestry.

It is likely that in learning his trade to become a solicitor, Arthur would have been articled to a law firm rather than receiving legal training at university. No records survive of any training, but by 1901 he was linked to Shropshire, and at the time of the census was a visitor in the home of Rowland G Venables, a local barrister. From around the same time, there are newspaper write ups of matches played by Oswestry Hockey Team. Featuring in these teams are a Bardswell – presumably Arthur – and G R Venables, the son of Rowland Venables. Arthur also seems to have been a participant in football, cricket and tennis matches as well as being a judge for Oswestry School sporting competitions.

In 1902, Arthur’s father Charles died. Arthur and his brother Noel were granted probate. Charles had left an estate valued at £26639 0s 10d, which would be the equivalent of over £2million today.

By 1909 (Kelly’s Directory) Arthur was living at Oakley, Queens Park, Oswestry and working for Longueville and Co.

At the outbreak of World War 1, Arthur was 41 and at the upper age for conscription. Initially he remained in Oswestry whilst his friends and colleagues enlisted. In 1915, Gilbert Venables – Arthur’s sporting teammate was killed in Belgium VENABLES, Gilbert R. Second Lieutenant. (menonthegates.org.uk) whilst a year later in 1916 Herbert Lawford, a fellow employee of Longueville and Co was killed during the Somme LAWFORD, Herbert MB. Captain. (menonthegates.org.uk). Around this time Arthur enlisted with the Shropshire Volunteer Regiment, and on the 23rd August 1917 he was transferred from the 1st Battalion to be a temporary 2nd Lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion. Shortly after transferring, Arthur was promoted to be temporary Captain in the same battalion (supplement to The London Gazette, 4th December 1917). As Arthur would have been at the very top end of the age bracket for enlistment, he may have massaged his age to gain entry. I am not certain whether Arthur saw active service overseas – much of his military history has been lost – but it does appear that he transferred to the 2/28th London Regiment in April 1918. He was discharged on 13th March 1919, noting that his right knee has become arthritic due to an influenza attack. Considering the date of his illness, it’s possible that Arthur fell ill with what was commonly known as “Spanish Flu”, a pandemic caused by the H1N1 virus.

After the war, Arthur married Agnes Lawford. Agnes was the daughter of Martin Lawford who was the senior partner of Longueville and Co. The Western Mail (10 August 1921) wrote a report of the wedding, concluding that “The honeymoon is being spent in a motor car tour of South Wales”.

Arthur died on 9 March 1936 at the Holly Bank Nursing Home, Green Lane, Mossley Hill, Liverpool. Probate was granted to his brother, Noel Dean Bardswell. After Arthur’s death, it appears that Agnes moved back to Trewern to live with her parents and sister, Norah. Agnes remained there until her death in October 1979.