In memory of Arthur Charles Hole
Arthur Charles Hole was the youngest son of Mr and Mrs Fred A Hole, of Pontrhydyrun House, Pontrhydyrun (now part of north Cwmbran). His brothers were Fred and Stan.
Arthur attended the Baptist Church in the village and was educated at West Monmouthshire School in Pontypool. He excelled at sports and played rugby for his school.
He joined Newport Borough Police and played for the force’s football and rugby teams. He was also a keen swimmer. He took part in ambulance work, and won Newport police’s Ambulance Cup in 1940. In August 1942 he married Vera Cleverley. The couple lived at 3 Fairoak Lane, Chepstow Road, Newport.
In 1941 he was one of the first officers from Newport police to volunteer for service with the RAF, where again he played rugby when time allowed. He became a Segeant Observer with 158 Squadron, which was based at Driffield, Yorkshire.
After numerous operations over enemy territory, he took off with five other crew in a Handley Page Halifax bomber on 26 February 1943, bound for a target in Germany. The plane crashed over Belgium, and all six crew are buried together at Florennes Communal Cemetery, near Namur.
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