1st Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment
Arthur Forbes Gordon Kilby was born at East Hayes (now Lansdown House), Pittville Circus Road, Cheltenham. He was a career soldier and at just 25 years of age was made a Captain of the 1st Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment in 1910.
He landed in France on 13 August 1914 and on 12 November was recommended for the MC for an action which caused such injuries that he was sent back to England, not returning to France until May 1915. He actually received his MC on 24 September 1915 and was further recommended for a DSO, however the next day he was killed in action near Cuinchy.
In an attack commencing at 06:30 Kilby was leading his men when he got hit in the hand, he carried on to the German wire where his foot was blown off but he continued to fire at the enemy. For his bravery on the day of his death Arthur Kilby was awarded the VC.
Captain Kilby’s body was eventually recovered in February 1929 and buried at Arras Road Cemetery. He is remembered on the Cheltenham War Memorial.