Arthur was born in 1883 in Luton to Edwin and Mary Elizabeth Hitchcock.

In 1911 Arthur was living at 74 Lea Road with his 69 year old widowed mother and his 36 year old unmarried sister Mary Elizabeth Ann. His sister was a straw hat finisher and Arthur was working as a whitesmith at an ironmongers.

Whilst serving in the Royal Army Service Corps in Flanders he caught TB and was discharged from active service and sent home.