Treasured Mementos

The bag in which Hannah Nicholas received her son's effects including his diary, pay book and ring

Canterbury Museum 2002.106.6

They were usually sent in an effects bag, a plain cotton bag provided by the military. Sometimes the contents were listed on the outside. Today these brief lists provide a stark reminder of how little was left of a young life.

1999 128 43 Photo Arthur Elderton portrait3

A Mother’s Grief

One of five siblings, Arthur Elderton enlisted on 14 June 1915 and fought in France with the 1^st Canterbury Regiment.

He was badly wounded in the stomach by a shell at Armentières and died in hospital at Bailleul 2 days later. Arthur’s mother Charlotte Elderton kept every item connected with her son and her collection of treasured mementoes provides a glimpse of a mother’s grief.

Private Arthur Elderton of the 1^st Canterbury Infantry Regiment

Canterbury Museum 1999.128.43

Telegram received by Charlotte Elderton advising of her son Arthur’s death 5 days earlier

Canterbury Museum ARC1999.6 [10]

The photograph of Arthur Elderton’s grave supplied to his mother Charlotte. The wooden crosses at cemeteries such as these were later replaced with the standard Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone made of Portland Stone.

Canterbury Museum ARC1999.6 [24]

This online exhibition is representative of Canterbury and World War One: Lives Lost Lives Changed, a temporary exhibition which ran from 30 November 2017 to 11 November 2018 at Canterbury Museum.

Treasured Mementos

A Mother’s Grief

On the Eve of War

Going to War

The War Away

The War at Home

Illness, Injury and Death

Lives Changed

Reflections

Roll of Honour

Treasured Mementos

A Mother’s Grief

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