Arthur Baskeyfield was born on the 3rd August 1883 at Fegg Hayes, Chell, Staffordshire, to parents William Baskeyfield, born in 1846 at Wolstanton, a Potters Warehouse man, and Elizabeth Née Matthews, born in 1851 at Dudley, Staffordshire. They were married at St. Margaret's Church, Wolstanton, in 1869. They would go on to have 7 children. Alice was born in 1870 at Tunstall, William Henry was born 1872 at Tunstall, died in 1873, William Henry was born 06.02.1874 born Tunstall; Hannah Maria was born 29 Jul 1877 at Black Bull, Tunstall, Arthur born 1883 at Fegg Hayes, Walter born 03.10.1885 at Fegg Hayes, Tunstall; and Ethel born in 1889 at Tunstall. 

In the 1871 Census, William Baskeyfield is a 24-year-old living at High Park, Chell. He is a Pottery Glost Warehouseman, Elizabeth has no occupation, and Alice is a baby.

In the 1881 Census, William is a 34-year-old Potters Warehouseman shown living simply at Fegg Hayes, Elizabeth, Housewife, and Alice, William Henry, and Hannah are at school.

The 1891 Census shows the family living at Leonard Street, Fegg Hayes. William is a 44-year-old Earthenware Warehouseman, and Elizabeth has no occupation. Alice is a 20-year-old single female employed as a Dressmaker, William Henry is a 17-year-old single man employed as a Mould Maker, Hannah is a 13-year-old scholar, Arthur, aged 7, and Walter, aged 5, are at school, and Ethel is aged 1. Sadly, Ethel Baskeyfield died aged 3 in 1892.  Alice Baskeyfield married John Baddeley on the 1st June 1893.

The 1901 Census shows William and Elizabeth living at 37 Caulton Street, Burslem. William is aged 53 and is a Potter's Warehouseman, Elizabeth is 51 with no occupation. Hannah Maria (23) has no occupation. Arthur is a 17 year old Potters Clerk and Walter a 15 year old Potters Clerk.  

William Henry Baskeyfield emigrated to Ohio, US, in 1904. William H, married Ida Infield on November 15th, 1907, in Coshocton County, Ohio, US. His birthplace was given as Burslem, England, and his occupation was Pottery Worker.  US Military records show he enlisted on September 11th, 1918, aged 44, at Zanesville, Muskingum, Ohio. There are no further records of his service. Records show that in 1920, W.H Baskeyfield lived in Muskingum, Ohio, then moved on to Lincoln, Logan, Illinois, for about ten years before he died aged 64 in 1937. 

The 1911 Census William and Elizabeth are now living at Bradwell View, Lorne Street, Burslem. William is a 64-year-old Potter's Manager at Royal Doulton. Elizabeth on Home Duties. Hannah is 33 and single, a Pottery Storeroom Operative, and Walter is 25, single and a Clerk. Also staying is a niece called Ethel M B Badderley, aged 16, who works in a China Warehouse.

The 1911 Census also records Arthur Baskeyfield as a 28-year-old lodger living at 39 Morley Road, St Margaret's, Twickenham, with Thomas and Clara Cole. He is a Commercial Traveller.

Arthur's father, William Baskeyfield, died on 16th August 1911. 

Little survives to tell about Arthur's military service. We do know that he was killed in France, initially reported missing but officially announced as dead on the 13th November 1916. Initially, he had served with the 8th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers and was sent to France after the 1st January 1916. We know this as his medal card shows his entitlement to only the British War Medal and Victory Medal. However, when he died, he was serving with the 17th Battalion. The battalion war diary tells us that on the 13th November 1916, they went into the attack on the Somme to capture Beaumont Hamel. The attack was largely successful. It is said some elements of the 17th Battalion made it into the Munich Trench, a German-held position, which coincidentally is where Arthur is buried. That likely is exactly where he fell as he lies in the Munich Trench British Military Cemetery.

An article in the Staffordshire Sentinel of the 22nd December 1916 reports that Arthur is missing, and previous to service, he had worked as a Salesman Traveller for Royal Doulton, Burslem, at their London showroom.

L Corpl. Arthur Baskeyfield, Royal Fusiliers, late of 31. Lorne-Street, Burslem, "is missing: Before his enlistment, he was employed by Messrs. Doulton, of Burslem, at their London showrooms as a salesman and traveller. His mother, who is at present residing in Stoke Road, Shelton, would be glad to receive any information concerning him.

There is also an article in the Daily Mirror dated January 23rd 1917 with photos of 8 men,  heading Lieutenant and Seven Men Missing; each picture has the name and address of whom to contact. 

His death is officially reported in the War Office Weekly issue 5344 dated 22nd August 1917.

His mother is recorded as next of kin on his WW1 pension cards, where her address is shown as either 37 Caulton Street or 31 Lorne Street, Burslem. She was awarded a weekly pension of 10 shillings from 18th September 1917.

He is buried in the Munich Trench British Military Cemetery at Beaumont Hamel, grave reference A 18.

He is also remembered on the Royal Doulton Memorial, Kilngate.

Arthur's brother Walter Baskeyfield also served in WW1 as 024579 2/CPL WALTER BASKEYFIELD 606th ARMY ORDNANCE CORPS. His address on his pension card is 31 Lorne Street, Burslem. He was discharged on the 23rd May 1919 with Malaria. He was admitted to the 28th General Hospital, Salonika, in 1918 with Malaria. He earned the British War Medal and Victory Medal. 

The 1921 census shows Arthur's widowed mother, Elizabeth (71), living at 31 Lorne St, Burslem, Staffordshire, with daughter Hannah Maria (43), single, working at Royal Doulton in the showroom. Elizabeth Baskeyfield died in 1929. 

Walter Baskeyfield married Beatrice Mabel Bentley in 1920, and in 1921 they can be found living at 10 Elm Street, Burslem, Walter working for Royal Doulton as a Clerk.

1939 census shows Walter Baskeyfield working as a Departmental Manager at Doultons Pottery, living with wife Beatrice Mabel (25 Dec 1890) and daughter Margaret (03.09.1922) at 8 Showan Avenue, Newcastle Under Lyme. 

Hannah Maria, now retired, is single, living at 46 Parkside Drive, Newcastle Under Lyme, with her widowed brother-in-law, John Baddeley.

SOURCES.

• Staffordshire County Council; Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire, England; Indexes of Births, Marriages and Deaths for the County of Staffordshire; Reference Number: C30/11/282
• FreeBMD. England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. TUN/090/003
• STAFFORDSHIRE BMD William birth - TUN/009/057
• STAFFORDSHIRE BMD Elizabeth birth- WOL/05/171
• STAFFORDSHIRE BMD Alice birth- TUN/056/071
• STAFFORDSHIRE BMD William Henry birth- TUN/060/074
• STAFFORDSHIRE BMD Hannah Maria birth - TUN/075/054
• STAFFORDSHIRE BMD Walter birth - TUN/095/044
• STAFFORDSHIRE BMD Ethel birth- TUN/103/087
• The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1871 England Census; Class: RG10; Piece: 2845; Folio: 22; Page: 37; GSU roll: 836378
• 1881 census Class: RG11; Piece: 2709; Folio: 54; Page: 45; GSU roll: 1341649
• The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891; Class: RG12; Piece: 2158; Folio: 23; Page: 39; GSU roll: 6097268
• 1901census Class: RG13; Piece: 2593; Folio: 175; Page: 18
• The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911. 
• The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; 1921 Census Returns; Reference: RG 15/12634, ED 20, Sch 123; Book: 12634 
• The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1939 Register; Reference: RG 101/5407B (Walter Baskeyfield) 
• Principal Probate Registry; London, England; Calendar of the Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration made in the Probate Registries of the High Court of Justice in England (William Baskeyfield) 
• National Army Museum; Chelsea, London, England; Soldiers' Effects Records, 1901-60; NAM Accession Number: 1991-02-333; Record Number Ranges: 529001-530500; Reference: 305
• Western Front Association; London, England; WWI Pension Record Cards and Ledgers; Reference: 385/06mb (Walter Baskeyfield) 
• https://www.fold3.com/file/668224810?terms=baskeyfield%2Carthur 
• https://www.fold3.com/image/323247236/baskeyfield-arthur-page-2-uk-wwi-british-army-medal-roll-index-cards-1914-1920?terms=baskeyfield%2Carthur
• Commonwealth War Graves Commission; Author: Peter Singlehurst; Series Title: British Commonwealth War Graves Registers, 1914-1918; Archive Name: London, United Kingdom
• https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000347/19161220/104/0005?browse=true
• NATIONAL ARCHIVES WO95/1350/2
• THE WAR GRAVES PHOTOGRAPHIC PROJECT
• https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GR4J-HRF?view=index&personArk=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AXSB2-G1P&cc=1810731&lang=en&groupId=&action=view