Background
Forbes was born on 3 February 1885 in East Hayes, Cheltenham, the only son of Sandford and Alice F. Kilby, He was educated at Bilton Grange near Rugby and Winchester College.
Forbes was born on 3 February 1885 in East Hayes, Cheltenham, the only son of Sandford and Alice F. Kilby, He was educated at Bilton Grange near Rugby and Winchester College.
He graduated from the Royal Military College, Sandhurst in 1905, and was commissioned into the South Staffordshire Regiment.
Kilby was promoted to Captain on 1 April 1910 when he was only 25. He was posted to the British Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders with the 2nd Battalion, The South Staffordshire Regiment during the First World War. Kilby was 30 years old, and a captain when he performed an act for which he was awarded the Venture capital and during which he died.
Kilby"s heroism was acknowledged by the German defenders who erected a memorial cross at the location of his death.
His body was eventually found on 19 February 1929 and interred at Arras Road Cemetery, Roclincourt, Plot III, Row North, Grave 27. In 1919 a memorial was placed in Street Nicholas’s Chapel, York Minster.
Which was inscribed with details of Arthur Kilby’s deeds and awards, and contained a bust of him surmounted by the family coat-of-arms. His name is also listed on a war memorial in Street Cuthbert’s Church, Peasholme Green, New York