Arthur lived at 1288 Richmond Avenue. At a young age he may have worked at his parents nursery, the 'Abby Egbert Nursery', which was also located at 1288 Richmond Ave. (Stone Rd). Before entering the war, he was employed by Richmond Light and Rail Road Company as a conductor.
He enlisted in the US Navy on June 18, 1917 at the recruiting station on Staten Island, N.Y. Arthurs first ship was a Civil War vessel the USS New Hampshire (1864), she was later renamed USS Granite State, Nov. 30, 1904.
He served on her from June 8, 1917 through Sept. 20, 1917. On Sept. 20, 1917 he was transferred to the transport ship, USS President Lincoln, berthed at Hoboken, N.J.
Arthur had taken 4 trans Atlantis cruises onboard the USS Lincoln; the 5th would be his last. After weighing anchor on May 29, 1917, she left for the United States from Brest, France in a convoy with 3 other transport ships. On May 31, 1917, after passing the so-called danger zone of submarines, the destroyer escorts turned back for port. At about 600 miles off the coast of France, the German submarine U 90 was on patrol. Taking sights on the USS President Lincoln, U 90 fired three torpedoes at her. Battle stations were called and within minutes orders changed to abandoned ship. Through this whole process the President Lincoln maintained guns fire upon area of the unseen submarine. Within 18 minutes she had sank. Out of all the men onboard, only 26 were lost, with one being taken prisoner.
Arthur Egbert was one of the sailors who went down with her and continues on her eternal cruise.

(Notes on USS President Lincoln: She was built by Harland & Wolff, Belfast, Ireland in 1903 as ship No. 353. She was launched October 8, 1903 as the 'Scotian' for Wilson's & Furness-Leyland Line. With the order being canceled, the Scotian was laid up for months in an unfinished state. On 1906 she was purchased by Hamburg America Line (HAPAG) of Hamburg, Germany. Her first intended name was 'Chicago' but was changed to 'Berlin' on May 20, 1907. Shortly after delivery she was again renamed to the 'President Lincoln'. In April 1917, she was seized by the United States and turned over to the United States Shipping Board to be used as a US Navy troop transport.)

Arthur S. Egbert
World War I

Unit USS President Lincoln
Rank Seaman Second Class U.S. Navy
Entered Service From New York
Date of Death May 31 1918
Status Missing In Action
Memorialized
Tablets of the Missing
Brookwood American Cemetery