Arthur Gladden: The story behind our greeting card
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Each month, the Taxi Charity sends out greeting cards to veterans. A recent card featured Arthur Gladden - the grandfather of one of the charity ambassadors, Kaye Gladden-Thorpe.
Kaye has long been associated with the charity as she used to accompany her greatly missed Uncle Bill, WWII veteran William Gladden, on charity trips.
We wanted to know more about her family and Kaye kindly shared this family history.
Arthur Walter Gladden was born 11 February 1891 in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, and was the fourth eldest of ten children. His dad, William, was a bookmaker, and his mum, Emily, was a housewife.
When WWI broke out in 1914, Arthur was called up and served in the 22nd Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery, and made it to A/BSM (Acting Battery Sergeant Major) with his beloved horse Queenie.
The 22nd Brigade was very active, landing in Zeebrugge in October 1914 to assist in the defence of Antwerp.
They participated in the first Battle of Ypres where they suffered huge losses and in 1916 saw action in the Battle of the Somme.
Arthur met Ethel May Peppit, who was also from Great Yarmouth, and they married in September 1918.
After the war, Arthur and Ethel moved to Lewisham, and Arthur got a job as a labourer. Their first child, Queenie Ethel, who was named after his beloved horse Queenie, was born on 12 January 1920.
A year later, the family moved to Frances Street, Woolwich, where their second child, Arthur Walter, Kaye’s dad, was born on 23 June 1921. Three years later, their third child William James (Bill), Kaye's uncle, was born on 13 January 1924.
They all grew up in Woolwich, where the young boys, Arthur and Bill, used to spend most Saturdays on the Woolwich Ferry, taking a packed lunch and spending the day going back and forth. Bill also used to go down to the Woolwich Barracks to see the horses. A love of which remained with him throughout his life.
The siblings remained in Woolwich until they married their partners. Arthur married Kaye’s mum, Violet, on 24 November 1945; Queenie married Ernie on 23 November 1946 and Bill married Marie on 6 July 1957.
After Ethel died in 1964, Arthur moved in with Queenie and Ernie, and lived with them until he died on 14 February 1983, aged 92.
Kaye said: “Grandad was a very quiet, proud man; a strict but fair dad who worked hard for his family. Grandad was 73 when I was born and quite frail, so never really played games with us while I was growing up. He was a lovely grandad - a very sweet, quiet man. He never used to get involved in conversations much when we used to visit. Our family get togethers normally had a party vibe which was probably too lively for him.
“He died when I was 19 and I wish now that I made more of an effort to have spent more time with him. Sadly, I never knew my nan she died four months before I was born aged 76.
“She had knitted me a shawl for my christening bless her. I’m told she was a very special lady.”
If you know a veteran who would like to receive a card from the charity - please email info@taxicharity.org with the veteran’s name, service number and address.
