Arthur
Wileman
Tuesday
14th May 1918: The
news was received today by Mr. S Arnold of 44 Kenilworth Road that Luton Town
footballer Arthur Wileman has been killed in action. Mr. Wileman’s wife had
lived at that address for some time both before and after her marriage; she is
now at her home in Somerset. No further details have yet been received.
Arthur Wileman came from a footballing
family at Newhall, South Derbyshire. He began his career with Newhall Swifts,
before he and his brother joined Burton United, where they gained reputations
as dangerous forwards. From there they moved to Chelsea, but were not
successful there and after two seasons they moved on. Arthur spent a season
with Millwall before joining Luton Town in 1912. Although on the small side he
was a strong player with great shooting power. In 1913-14 he scored 33 goals
for the club, becoming their second highest scorer. He was one of eight men from Luton Town who joined the Footballers’ Battalion in December 1914. Due to
an injury to his knee he was not sent to France until 1916, when he transferred
to the Royal Sussex Regiment. In February last year the Club Secretary received a letter from him from the Front, where he was serving with another Luton
player, Arthur Roe. He was promoted to acting sergeant major, and just before
Christmas was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry. He turned down the
offer of a commission, preferring to remain in the ranks.
Source:
Luton News, 16th May 1918
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