Living with his parents in Kings Road, Rushden, Arthur Edward Bettles was a postman, aged 19 when he joined the Territorials at Rushden on 1st February 1915. He was 5'6¼" tall with a 36" chest (2" expansion).

On the 1st of September 1915 he went to France and was wounded in the head on the 8th April 1916. He married Norah Jessie Ayling on the 27th May 1916 at Kingston by Sea, Sussex. Their son Edward Henry John was born at Shoreham.

It is unclear when he returned to France, but Arthur died of wounds at No. 9 General Hospital, Rouen on 28th August 1916.