Arthur Howell George – Royal Artillery, H.Q., 90th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment

Lance Bombardier Arthur Howell George – Royal Artillery, H.Q., 90^th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment

Birth and Family Background

Arthur James Balsdon and Mabel Harrison
marriage certificate
St. Mary's Church, Swansea

Arthur Howell George was born as Arthur Howell Balsdon in 1917 at Mumbles. He was the son of Arthur James Balsdon and Mabel Harrison, who were married in 1908 at St Mary’s Church, Swansea.

1911 Census

The 1911 Census records the Balsdon family residing at the Victoria Inn, Westbourne Place, Mumbles. Arthur James Balsdon (31) was employed as a hotel manager, while his wife Mabel (32), born in Lancashire, managed the household. Their only child at that time was Winifred, aged 10 months.

Early Loss and Guardianship

1921 Census

Mabel Balsdon died in 1917, the year of Arthur Howell’s birth. By the time of the 1921 Census, Arthur Howell Balsdon (3) was living at Myrtle Cottage, Norton, West Cross, in the household of his uncle and aunt.

The head of the household was Thomas George (53), a commercial clerk employed by Vivian & Sons Ltd, Copper Smelters and Manufacturers, and his wife Adeline (45). Arthur Howell is recorded in the census as “nephew, adopted child”, indicating that he was taken into their care following his mother’s death. Thomas George had married Adelina Margretta Balsdon in 1896.

1939 Register

Thomas George died in 1939, and by the time of the 1939 Register, Arthur, now recorded as Arthur Howell George, was living with Adelina at 23 Norton Road, West Cross. Arthur was employed as a bank clerk, while Adelina undertook household duties.

Military Service

Arthur Howell George served in the Royal Artillery, attaining the rank of Lance Bombardier. He was posted to Headquarters, 90^th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, a unit responsible for providing low-level air defence to Allied forces and vital installations during the Italian Campaign.

By February 1944, the regiment was deployed in support of Allied operations around the Anzio beachhead, where German forces were mounting determined counter-attacks aimed at destroying the Allied lodgement before a breakout toward Rome could be achieved. The role of Light Anti-Aircraft units was crucial, defending troop concentrations, supply areas, headquarters, and transport routes against frequent enemy air attacks.

The Headquarters element of a Light Anti-Aircraft regiment played a key operational role, coordinating gun positions, communications, and liaison with higher command. Despite not being a front-line infantry unit, regimental headquarters was often situated close to critical targets and was therefore highly vulnerable to enemy artillery bombardment, mortar fire, and air attack. Casualties among headquarters personnel during this phase of the campaign were not uncommon.

Death and Burial

On 17^th February 1944, during one of the heaviest periods of fighting in the Anzio campaign, Lance Bombardier Arthur Howell George was killed in action. At that time, German forces were conducting sustained assaults against the Allied perimeter, and no part of the beachhead could be considered secure from enemy fire.

His death occurred while serving with Headquarters, 90^th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, reflecting the reality that artillery and air-defence troops were frequently exposed to the dangers of frontline combat, even while carrying out specialist defensive roles.

Arthur Howell George
Anzio War Cemetery, Italy
credit - findagrave

Lance Bombardier Arthur Howell George is buried at the Anzio War Cemetery, Italy, where many soldiers who fell during the Anzio operations are laid to rest.