Tallentire, AT

2nd Lieutenant Arthur Tom Tallentire

Arthur was born on April 6^th 1888, the only son of a stockbroker, Thomas Tallentire, and his wife, Ellen. He joined Dulwich in the summer of 1902, having previously been a pupil at The Hall, Sydenham, and was at the College for the next three years. After leaving in the summer of 1905 he followed his father’s career, taking up a position at the London Stock Exchange; he was also a regular player for the OAs, and, from 1907 onwards, a reservist with the Artists Rifles. In early 1912 he sailed for the west coast of Canada with the intention of becoming a farmer out there. This did not last long, however, and by the start of 1914 he was back in England.

As an active reservist Arthur was called up upon the declaration of war in the summer of 1914 and not long afterwards, in October, given a commission, remaining in the Artists Rifles. Shortly after taking up his commission he was sent to the continent, going on to serve on the front line for almost a year. In September 1915 he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps where he acted as an observer and was attached to the 2^nd Wing of Number 5 Squadron, based in Flanders. On October 20^th, whilst on a reconnaissance mission, the plane he was serving in was shot down, killing him along with his pilot.