Arthur Rastall
| Arthur Rastall | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1892 |
| Died |
16 November 1918 (aged 25–26) 108 Wellgate, Rotherham |
| Resting place | Boston Cemetery section S grave 543 (family plot) |
| Education | Staniland School; Boston Grammar School (1900s) |
| Occupation | Sorting Clerk and Telegraphist; Wireless Operator |
| Employer | Boston Post Office; Royal Engineers |
Arthur Rastall was educated at Boston Grammar School (1900s).
Obituary
From the February 2001 issue of The Old Bostonian
Arthur Rastall born in 1892, attended Staniland School and then BGS. When he left school he worked as a sorting clerk and telegraphist at Boston Post Office. At the end of 1917 he went into the army as a wireless operator in the Royal Engineers. His death came suddenly. He was engaged to a young lady who lived in Rotherham and she was taken ill and died. Arthur must have been extremely upset. He contracted pneumonia and died at 108 Wellgate, Rotherham on 16th November 1918.
He was buried in Boston and at his funeral his coffin was carried by four postmen in uniform.
Contemporary account from The Boston Guardian, Saturday, November 23, 1918
Boston soldier's death. - It is with regret we have to record the death from pleurisy, and pneumonia, of Sapper Arthur Rastall, son of Mr. and Mrs. Rastall, Brothertoft-road, Boston. In civil life he was a sorting clerk and telegraphist, attached to the Boston Post Office, and was held in high esteem by the Postmaster, and his fellow officers, both for his competence and his bright cheerful personality. In the early days of the war, Sapper Rastall became a wireless operator, seeing duty at Spilsby, Dogsthorpe, Peterboro', Rotherham, Falkirk, Edinburgh, Wikipedia:Caister-on-Sea and Devizes. Nearly 12 months ago he joined the Royal Engineers, continuing, however, to perform wireless duties. A fortnight ago he was called to Rotherham owing to the illness and death of his fiancée, when he became seriously ill and passed away on the 16th inst. His body was brought to Boston for burial on Wednesday, the Boston Post office being represented at the funeral by the Postmaster, Me W H Sandoe, Mr Mawer (chief clerk), Mr J W Cooke (assistant Superintendent), Messrs Maltby and J R Smith (overseers), and ~Messrs A B Smith, Elkington, and Richardson (clerks), while four postmen in uniform acted as bearers. The floral tributes included wreaths from the Postmaster and staff at Boston, and the Superintendent and staffs of the Wireless Stations at Dogsthorpe and Falkirk.