Arthur Shirley was born on 2 April 1916 the son of John Shirley and his wife Flora nee Carter. His was a large family, since five years before his birth, in 1911, the census recorded that there were eight children born to Flora and John, who was a farm labourer in Hob Lane, Berkswell. Arthur married Frances May Glover on 11 April 1936 and they had four children: David, June, Frances Ann and Peter, though sadly Peter was to die at the age of just two years old. In the 1939 register Arthur was working as a horseman on a farm and their address was Byfield Place, Balsall Common.
Frances was born on 17 September 1918 to James Glover and his wife Ada nee Pinks. Although her husband Arthur was to die aged just 55 on 18 October 1972, Frances survived to the age of 77, dying on 24 January 1996.