Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Private 2445 Arthur Wells, 22nd Battalion

Written by Jillann Kerr, Cairns.
Published FFFAIF DIGGER #80 pgs 65-66, Sept 2022.

Arthur Poncho (Wells) was born on 20 October, 1895, in Cunnamulla, Queensland. His father was James Lyon Poncho and his mother Annie Poncho. Arthur was Annie’s tenth child. James Lyon Poncho died in 1895 and Annie re-married in Victoria in 1899, to James Underwood Wells. Arthur’s surname was now changed to that of his stepfather.

Arthur’s mother died in childbirth on 15 January, 1900, as did her stillborn daughter. James Wells took on the task of raising his stepchildren with the help of his second wife, Clara. James had been engaged as a drover, overlanding horses between Cunnamulla and Benalla, Vic. To provide more stability for his family, the Wells moved to Baddaginnie, Vic. Arthur attended Baddaginnie State School in Victoria, along with his younger sister, Mary Underwood Wells Poncho.

Sometime before the war, the family relocated to Myers Creek near Healesville, where James worked in the timber industry and Arthur was working as a farm labourer.

In July 1915, Arthur asked his parents if they would approve of him joining the army. Consequently, on 12 July, James and Clara wrote a consent note to be handed to the recruitment officer:

Sir,
We the undersigned being the parents of Arthur Wells (aged nineteen years and seven months) do hereby give our consent to his enlistment for active service with the AI Forces, within or beyond the limits of the Australian Commonwealth.

JU Wells (Father)
Clara A Wells (Stepmother).
I certify the above signatures are genuine.
Arthur Wells.

Armed with his parents’ permission, Arthur Wells applied to join the AIF at Healesville the next day, 13 July. On 16 July, 1915, at the age of 19 years and seven months, he was medically re- examined and attested in Melbourne. Arthur was 5’71⁄4” tall and weighed 9st 7lb, with fair complexion, grey eyes and flaxen hair.

Wells was allocated to the 5th Reinforcements to the 22nd Battalion (6th Brigade/2nd Division) at Broadmeadows on 1 September, 1915. He sailed from Melbourne on the RMS Osterley on 20 September, 1915, arriving in Alexandria on 25 October. Arthur [right] did not serve on Gallipoli, and was taken on strength of ‘D’ Company of the 22nd Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir on 8 January, 1916. Between 5 and 15 March, Arthur was treated in the 5th Field Ambulance at Moascar for mumps.

Four days later, Arthur’s battalion left from Alexandria on the Llandovery Castle, bound for Marseilles, where the men disembarked on 26 March. The 2nd Division was initiated into the Western Front around Bois-Grenier in the Armentieres sector, before receiving orders on 11 July to move to the Somme. The 1st Division had attacked the German trenches at Pozieres on 23 July, 1916, and by 26 July the division was severely depleted in numbers and the men exhausted from the heavy fighting and shelling on Pozieres Ridge.

The 2nd Division went into the trenches on the night of 26/27 July and relieved the 6th Battalion by 4.30 am. The 22nd Battalion experienced heavy enemy shelling and fought off one counter-attack on 27 July. Casualties on their first day in the front line on the Somme were the heaviest endured by the battalion since the start of the war: 2nd Lieutenant Hart was killed, plus 19 other ranks; five officers were wounded, including Captain Wiltshire, along with 129 other ranks. Nineteen other ranks were also missing.

Arthur Wells was wounded in action on 27 July. He was evacuated to the 3rd Casualty Clearing Station at Puchevillers, where he died of his wounds at the 3rd Casualty Clearing Station on 30 July. Arthur was buried in Puchevillers Military Cemetery (II.C.31) by Chaplain WM Woodburn.

26 ‘In June 1916, just before the opening of the Battles of the Somme, the 3rd and 44th Casualty Clearing Stations came to Puchevillers. Plots I to V, and almost the whole of Plot VI, were made by those hospitals before the end of March 1917.’ Source: cwgc.org. Chaplain Woodburn seems to have belonged to the British Army.

Arthur’s family asked the Red Cross to inquire into the circumstances of his death in the 3rd Casualty Clearing Station.27 Captain WNN Hey, RAMC, replied to Vera Deakin in London:

He was admitted 28-7-16 suffering from gunshot wound head, penetrating (I.4). He died 30-7-16 and was buried the following day in the Military Cemetery, Puchevillers, where a wooden cross with full particulars marks his grave.

The Rev. WM Woodburn, CE, officiated at the burial. Any personal effects that he may have had would be forwarded to the DAG Base and you will no doubt receive them in due course.

The Red Cross Bureau did not seem to interview any of Arthur’s comrades from the 22nd Battalion, regarding how and where he was wounded.

Arthur’s personal effects of an identity disc, a jug, a purse and two receipts, were sent in a package to James Wells at Healesville. In 1922, James Wells of ‘Caledonia,’ Baradine, NSW, signed for another package.

Arthur’s stepfather wrote to the Base Records Office in 1929:

‘Lanceville’ Cania Rd Via Monto Queensland 28-1-29

Dear Sir,
My son, Private Arthur Wells (2445), 22nd Battalion AIF, died of wounds in France on or about the 30/7/16, at No. 44 CCS [sic]. I am now 72 years of age, and I have never received any pension from the Government for him.28 I am his only living relative, his mother being dead, and I would like to know whether I am entitled to any pension from the Government for him. I have always been in the bush, and worked hard, but as I am now getting old, I would be glad of a little assistance if I can get it.

Hoping you will give my inquiry the fullest consideration. I am
Yours faithfully,
JU Wells.

Base Records forwarded James’ letter on to the Deputy Commissioner of the Repatriation Commission on 5 February, 1929, but there is no further correspondence in Arthur’s file on this matter.

Arthur Wells is remembered on the Baddaginnie War Memorial, Benalla Cenotaph and on the Healesville Honour Board.