Basil Wilfred Henry Arnold

Story:
Basil Wilfred Henry Arnold was born in Bulford, Wiltshire, on 11 Oct 1899 and baptised there on 14 Nov 1899 the son of Rev. Cecil North Arnold and Sarah Alice Arnold (nee Seary).  He lived his early life in Bulford until his father was appointed Vicar of Ebbesbourne Wake, Wiltshire, prior to 1911.  In 1911 Basil was a pupil boarder at Cranleigh School, Cranleigh, Surrey.    He enlisted on 17 Oct 1917 and joined the Royal Flying Corps (Royal Air Force from 1 Apr 1918) as a Pilot (Service No. 100238), His commission as a Pilot Officer was announced in the London Gazette on 15 Nov 1918 and he was attached to the No. 3A Flight School.  He was discharged on 29 Oct 1919.  He would have been eligible for the Victory and British War Medals but no actual records of RAF awards can be found.  The 1921 Census shows him visiting an address at 8 Buckingham Vale, Bristol, where he was described as a Brewing Pupil. He married Elspeth S. McKay (or McDearmid) in Croydon, Surrey, in 1934.   By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 55 Park Hill Road, Croydon, Surrey, working as Technical Brewer and Assistant Manager.  He later moved to Rosemary Cottage, Farnham, Dorset, and his death was recorded at the Blandford, Dorset, Registry on 14 Jan 1989.   His brother, Leonard Frank Cecil Arnold, also served in the conflict but was regrettably killed in action.