6107339 Private Arthur John Kettlety
6107339 Private Arthur John Kettlety was born on 14 October 1915 in Barry, Glamorganshire; the son of Samuel
and Emily (née Sandell) Kettlety.
The 1921 census of England and Wales lists Arthur as living with his parents and elder sister at 27 Palmerston
Road, Barry. Samuel is listed as a general dock labourer and ship repairer, currently out of work but
previously employed by Elliot and Jeffries.
In the autumn of 1935 Arthur married Agnes Hilda Dumsday in Surrey and together they initially settled in
Surrey and in 1938 and 1939 were living at 4 Council Flats, Hareland Corner, Horley. However, whether they
remained in Surry or moved back to Wales is unclear.
The 1939 Register of England and Wales lists Arthur and
Agnes as living at 27 Palmerston Road, Barry, the address Arthur had been living at in 1921. The 1939 Register
records Arthur's and Agnes's occupations as Bricklayer's Labourer and Unpaid Domestic duties respectively.
On 16th April 1942 Arthur enlisted with the Queen's Royal West Surrey. After successfully completing
his parachute course, on 25th May 1943 he transferred to the 11th Parachute Battalion.
Together with the other men of the 11th Battalion, in September 1944 Arthur jumped into the
Battle of Arnhem. On 25th September 1944, in the midst of the fighting, Arthur was captured and held
as a Prisoner of War. We don't know which camps he was held in, whether he was required to work or anything else
about his time as POW.
However, we do know he survived his imprisonment and was repatriated on 9th May 1945 and returned
home to England.
After the war, Arthur returned to Agnes and they lived in, Surrey. However, they moved between numerous
properties in their first few years:
In 1947 - 1950 they were living in Vicarage Road, Reigate.
In 1951, they were living in Hut 516, RAF Camp, Horley Gardens Estate, in 1952 in Hut 52,
In 1953, they found their "forever home" and, at least until 1961, they were living in Horley Row, Dorking.
Sadly, Agnes died in 1980. Arthur remained in the Horley area, where he died on 19th May 1990,
followed on 29th May 1990, by a funeral service at The
Surrey and Sussex Crematorium.
We are still researching the life of Private Kettlety. If you are a relative or have any information about him, please contact us.