Category: Conscientious Objector, Military
Rank: Bombardier 83234
Regiment or Ship: 297 Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery
Service Number(s): 83234
Occupation: Assistant Headmaster (1911 census)
Date of Birth: 25 Dec 1883
Place of Birth: District of Kingston, Surrey
Date of Death: 1970
Place of Death: District of Merton, Greater London
Address: Ebor School, (Army Records), Bexhill
Photos and newspaper articles
Click on any image to see a larger version
Family Information
Father – Ernest Gershorn Colman, born 1851, in Clapham, London
Mother-Emily Jane Colman (née Bateman), born 1850, in Brixton, London.
Siblings
Edith Beatrice Colman, born 1877, in Merton, Surrey married Percy C. Rice, in Kingston District, in 1910, (they had 3 children)
Frederick Daniel Colman, born in 1878, in Merton, Surrey
Eugene E Colman, born 1879, in Merton, Surrey
Clement G Colman, born 1880, in Merton, Surrey
Henry G Colman, born 1881, in Merton, Surrey
Frank E Colman, born 1883, in Merton, Surrey
Marion O Colman, born 1886, in Sutton, Surrey
Christobel E Colman, born 1889, in Wimbledon, Surrey
Ernestine M Colman, born 1892, in Wimbledon, Surrey
Isabella M Colman, born 1896, in Wimbledon, Surrey
Two possible marriages for Arthur Percy Colman – Sara S. Money, in 1931, in Erpingham, in Norfolk and Marjorie A. Harmer in 1939.
First World War Experience
On 20th May 1916, Arthur Percy Colman, joined the Royal Garrison Artillery (297 Siege Battery RGA ) as a bombardier and served in France but his records give no indication as to where or what actions he was in.
As regards his character, one record states, “Character very good” and that he was “sober and hardworking”.
At sometime in the spring of 1917, Arthur suffered a bad injury to his left arm but, again, the few records of his that have survived, give no details as to how he was wounded. His medical records say that his arm was diseased and had to be amputated.
He was discharged as being “No longer Physically fit for War Service” and “Discharged on account of wounds received in action”.
He was Invalided to England – 24.6.17 and eventually granted a pension.
There is no record as to where or when the amputation took place or the cause of the wound.
C0008 (1) COLMAN, Arthur Percy (Bombardier) – Army Records
Additional Information
Arthur was a conscientious objector who went before two Tribunals before accepting their decision, joining an artillery unit as a Bombardier.
Arthur may have married twice as there is a record of the marriage of an Arthur P. Colman to a Sara S.Money, at Erpingham, Norfolk, in 1931 and another record of an Arthur P. Colman marrying a Marjorie A. Harmer in 1939, in Norwich, in Norfolk. There were children of both these marriages
Tribunal Reports
C0008 (2) COLMAN, Arthur Percy (Bombardier) – Trancription of Tribunal Reports