Arthur Fleet (buried 1929)

At a glance

At a glance
Surname: 
Fleet
First name: 
Arthur
Other Christian names: 
Gender: 
Male
Children: 
No
Burial number: 
1396
Born: 
0/0/1854
Died: 
27/04/1929
Buried: 
01/05/1929
Occupation: 
Shipowner's Clerk
Distinction: 
Shipbroker
Heene Hallmark: 
No
Commonwealth War Grave: 
No

The Grave

The grave
Cemetery area: 
WB
Cemetery row: 
1
Cemetery plot: 
33
what3words location: 
https://what3words.com/deals.soon.keen
Burial remains: 
Unknown
The headstone
Endowed grave: 
No
Headstone inscription: 
In memorium Arthur Fleet 4th son of the late James and Frances (Roche) Fleet died 27th April 1929 aged 75
Grave location map

Life story

Life story

Arthur Fleet was born in Penge, Surrey, in 1854, he was the son of James Frederick Fleet, 33yrs, Wholesale Grocer, and Frances Roche, 29yrs, Arthur had 6 siblings. His father died in 1862 when he was 8yrs old.

Arthur lived with his widowed mother in Penge, Surrey, and in 1881 they were in Bromley, Kent. He was employed as a shipowner's clerk from school leaving age and appears to have successfully established himself in the shipping trade. He moved overseas, working in Hong Kong and Shanghai and made himself a fortune. He does not appear to have married.

In 1911, having retired from his business activities in Shanghai, Arthur was visiting England, he stayed at the Bedford Hotel in Bloomsbury, London, he possibly then returned abroad as he did not appear in the 1921 census. At some point he moved to Worthing, Sussex, where his brother, Ernest resided in Winchester Road, and in 1929 Arthur was living at the Sandringham Hotel, Wordsworth Road. Arthur died at the Seabrook Nursing Home, Queen's Road, Worthing, on 27th April 1929, aged 75yrs.

Probate, resealed Shanghai 1929 and Hong Kong 1930, was granted to Lloyds Bank Ltd, effects £22,136 11s 6d. Value 2023 - £1.8m.

Burial researcher: 
Maggi Martin

Further information

Birth
Date born: 
00/00/1854

Death

Death (details)
Date of death: 
27/04/1929
Age (at time of death): 
75
Cause of death: 
Unknown
Address at time of death: 
Sandringham Hotel, Wordsworth Road, Worthing, Sussex, England
Usual address at death: 
Sandringham Hall Hotel, Wordsworth Road, Worthing, Sussex, England
Obituary

Worthing Gazette - Wednesday May 1st 1929

Death of Mr A Fleet - The death occurred on Saturday in a local nursing home of Mr Arthur Fleet, a brother of Rear-Admiral E Fleet C.B.E. Mr Fleet, who was 75, had resided in Worthing, latterly at Sandringham Hall, since his retirement from business in Shanghai some 20 years ago. Th funeral is taking place at Heene Cemetery this afternoon, the interment being preceded by a service at St Botolph's Church at 2.30pm.

Personal effects
Probate pounds: 
£22,136

Census and miscellaneous information

Census information
1871 census: 

Living at 1, Roystons, Beckenham Road, Penge, Surrey. Frances Fleet, Hd. 45yrs, widow, daughter, Agnes, 22yrs, sons, Roche, 21yrs, Civil Servant, Arthur, 17yrs, Shipbrokers Clerk, Bernard, 14yrs, plus 2 boarders, 3 visitors, and 3 domestic servants.

1881 census: 

Living at 58, London Road, Bromley, Kent.  Frances Fleet, Hd. 54yrs, widow, daughter, Constance, 26yrs, sons, Bernard, 24yrs, Bankers Clerk, Arthur, 27yrs, Shipowners Clerk, plus 1 domestic servant.

1911 census: 

Visitor at Bedford Hotel, Southampton Row, Bloomsbury, London WC. Arthur Fleet, 53yrs, Independent means.

Miscellaneous information

Added Information

Arthur’s older brother, Ernest James Fleet, (probably the link for his connection with Worthing) had a distinguished naval career, retiring with the rank of Rear Admiral and living at 41, Winchester Road, Worthing, Sussex.

In 1887 Ernest, then a lieutenant, was awarded a silver medal by the Royal Humane Society for personal gallantry, after assisting in the rescue of an Able Seaman. Ernest jumped overboard from his ship, off the coast of East Africa, and swam 150yds in rough seas to aid the stricken sailor.

Rear Admiral Ernest Fleet retired from the active list in 1905, but re-joined during the war as a captain in the R.N.R. and saw service in the Western Mediterranean.