Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Arthur Leonard CHIBNALL was born on 16th January, 1897 in Snake Valley, Victoria

His parents were Arthur Frederick CHIBNALL and Ellen CHRISTIE

From Ballarat & District in the Great War

Pte Arthur Leonard CHIBNALL, 7th Battalion

'...Dear Mrs Chibnall, I know you will be glad to get some news of the end of your gallant son and our young comrade, Leonard - "Chibby" - as we all called him.

We have been very friendly all along. Len was very popular with all for his fine manly spirit and his generous heart. He never failed to share anything he had with the rest of us, and was a general favourite. No matter how tired he was, he never once had to fall out on a march, nor failed to do any job he had set him: and there aren't too many of whom I can say that. He was a most willing little worker, and a cheerful comrade.

The manner of his end was heroic in the extreme. On the morning of 25th July our company was called up to reinforce another battalion. We had to bomb the enemy out of one of his own trenches. Some went up to throw bombs, and others, including Len, were sniping from the sides of the trench.

Presently the call came for fresh bombers. Len, having had some training in bomb-throwing, went up to the end of the trench nearest the Germans, and I took his rifle. That was the last I saw of him. They tell me he resumed sniping; others told me he was very eager and jumped on the parapet of the trench, calling 'Come on, Australia!' Then one of the enemy's snipers shot him dead with a bullet in the back of his neck.

He could not have died more gloriously, and I am sure you will feel proud to be the mother of a boy who fought so gallantly and died so gamely. It was a day of valiant deeds, but I feel sure no one was more fearless than my young friend, and I know you will cease to mourn his going when you learn how magnificently he fell. Surely God will be very kind to one who knew so well how to die. His death and his gallant conduct should be an inspiration to us all - and to the strong men who have not yet responded to the Call. We miss his bright young face very much, and know how sadly you must mourn him, and on behalf of [those who] saw him die so bravely, we offer you and the remainder of your family our sincerest sympathy, and I trust that God will heal your sorrow and comfort you with the thought that duty nobly done wants not its reward…'

Lance Corporal Arthur Dean, 7th Battalion, understanding how important first-hand news of battlefield death was to families, took the time to write to the mother of his mate, Private Arthur Leonard Chibnall, after his mate was killed in action on 25 July 1916.

Len, a labourer from Snake Valley, had been rejected twice before being accepted for active service. He was five months short of his 20th birthday when he was killed in fighting at Pozieres.

Mid’st the roaring of the battle
And the rain of shot and shell,
Fighting for home and country
Len like a Hero fell.
And somewhere in France he is lying,
Somewhere in deep trodden soil
He died an Australian Hero
Trying to save us all.

Indeed, Len does lie in ‘deep trodden soil’ - unknown and unmarked – his name is commemorated alongside thousands of his countrymen on the walls of the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux.

Arthur Dean, the writer of this beautiful letter, survived the war, rising to the rank of lieutenant. He returned to Melbourne and a life of great significance. The law graduate went on to become a Supreme Court Judge and Chancellor of Melbourne University. He was knighted for his services to the community and died in Melbourne on 25 September 1970.

From Snake Valley & District Historical Society

Private Arthur Leonard ‘Len’ Chibnall (SRN 4158) was born in Snake Valley on the 16th of January 1897 to Ellen and Arthur Fredrick Chibnall. His occupation was listed as labourer.

Len served in the military in 1914 in Ballarat, Victoria and at the age of 19 and joined the 7th Battalion after having twice been rejected.

Len was killed in action on the 25th of July, 1916 in Pozieres, Somme, France and was buried in Villers, Aisne, France.

The following was written in a letter to Len’s mother, from Lance Corporal Arthur Dean:

'Mid’st the roaring of the battle
And the rain of shot and shell
Fighting for home and country
Len like a hero fell
And somewhere in France he’s lying
Somewhere in deep trodden soil
He died an Australian Hero
Trying to save us all'

(Taken from ‘Dinkum Oil’ Author: Amanda Taylor)

Len’s mother also received a letter regarding Len’s passing from A.E Coates -later Sir Albert Coates

Info from AWM Roll of Honour, NAA & Ancestry.com.au