Captain, 1st Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment.

Arthur was born on 27th November 1881 in London the eldest of at least five children of Major General Arthur (of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers) and Maria Frances Hales who later lived in Lansdown Crescent, Bath. His father had also served as commandant of the Straits Settlements.

He was educated at Summerfields, Oxford, (1892 to 1895) and Rugby School (1895 to 1900) before going to Corpus Christi College, Oxford, where he took honours in classical moderations and in the final history school. He played football for his college, and for the Harlequins, and for the Monkstown Team of 1902.

He was also a rowing blue, and rowed against Cambridge in 1904 and 1905, being secretary of the boat club in 1901 and 1902 and captain from 1902 to 1904. He received his BA in 1904 and MA in 1914.

He became a master at Radley College in 1906 and remained there until he joined the army.

He enlisted in August 1914, went to the front in November, and, after being wounded in January, obtained his commission on 22nd February 1915, for gallantry in the Field.

His award of the Military Cross was gazetted on 15th April 1915,

'For conspicuous gallantry at Spanbroek Molen on 12th March 1915, in leading the attack after being twice wounded, and subsequently for placing other wounded men under cover.'

He was mentioned in despatches on 31st May 1915, and was promoted to captain on 17th July.

Arthur Hales died on 6th July 1916, aged 34 when he was second in command of the regiment. at the Leipzig Redoubt one of the companies was in difficulties and he went to assist when he was hit by a sniper.

An officer wrote,

'…He was one in a thousand, and idolised by the men, and his loss is keenly felt throughout the Regiment. I know of no finer or more capable Officer than he was, and feel that the Country has indeed suffered a grievous loss in losing him…'