Private 268909

11^th Bn., Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby) Rgt.

Died 10^th September 1918 aged 30.

Grave ref. Giavera Memorial Italy.

Arthur Graney was born in 1875 at Ironville, Derbyshire, son of Joseph and Emily Graney. The 1881 Census, records the family, then living at Victoria Street, Ironville as follows:-  Joseph (aged 26 years), Emily (aged 26 years), William (18) who was Arthur’s father’s brother , Lillian (8), and Arthur (6). Arthur’s paternal grandmother, Victoria Graney, widow aged 64 years, also lived with the family. 

Arthur was to marry and lived with his wife, Sarah Graney (nee Shannon) on Laverick Road, as indicated in the 1918 Absent Voters Electoral Roll. Arthur and Sarah had two children named Nora and Walter. His parents Joseph and Emily Graney later moved to Selston Road, Jacksdale. Arthur’s sister Lillian married into the Butlin family. 

Arthur enlisted at Eastwood, Notts, date unknown and on Tuesday 10th September 1918, was killed in action whilst serving in the line, near Serona, Italy. The Sherwood Foresters Roll states that he was thirty three years old at time of death, but our records indicate he may actually have been aged 38 at time of death. 

Private Graney has no known grave and is commemorated on the Giavera Memorial, Italy, where 153 Commonwealth Casualties are listed and is the only soldier on our memorial who is a casualty outside of the ‘Western Front’ as far as we are aware. 

Arthur’s  wife’s brother was Private John Henry Shannon who is also listed on the Jacksdale Memorial, having been killed in action in June 1917.  It is an interesting coincidence that a Cpl ThomasWrightson, listed on the Jacksdale Memorial as served, was also a resident of Laverick Road, also served in the 11th Btn Sherwood Foresters and had a service number of  268910, the very next number along from Arthur!