Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Arthur Lambert Dewar (1888-1949) was born on 23rd October 1888 to parents Arthur Bernard Dewar and Adelaide Mary Lambert Dewar in Exeter Port Adelaide, South Australia. He was the 4th eldest of 8 children. Prior to enlistment he was employed as a Shipwright. On 28th of October 1913, at the age of 25, he married Elsie Blanche Dewar under the Church of England. He resided in Semaphore, South Australia with his wife and daughter Adelaide Marjorie born in 1914. Arthur's brother Henry Gordon also served in WW1 but tragically died at Gallipoli 15th August 1915.

Arthur was aged 26 years and 11 months at the time of enlistment, which was 6th of September 1915. His standing height was 5 feet and 5 and a half inches, chest width at 35 inches, and weighed 129 pounds. His papers describe that he had a fair complexion with blue eyes and dark brown hair. 

He began his service with the 3rd Company, 2nd Depot Battalion Australian Imperial Force on 6 September 1915 and stayed there until 13th of October that same year where he was assigned to a platoon for “A Company” for a short period of 3 days. On the 6th of November 1915 he was at Morphettville camp, serving with the 15th/16th Battalion. On the 1st of January 1916 he attended the Non-Commission Officer School (Company 73), training until the 16th of March. On 16th of March 1916, he was promoted to Corporal, showing early aptitude.

Less than a month later, Arthur Lambert Dewar embarked from Adelaide, South Australia to England on 11th April 1916, aboard the ship HMAT Aeneas, part of the 27th Infantry Battalion.

On the 9th of June 1916, he disembarked in England. He proceeded to France 11th September 1916 via Étaples. He reverted to Private aon 11th September. Dewar was taken on strength of the 27th Battalion A.I.F as a Private 28th September. He was re-appointed again as a Lance-Corporal on the 2nd of October 1916.

On the 14th of October 1916, Dewar was promoted as Temporary Corporal in place of Corporal Callaway (no. 311) who was promoted. Right after, Dewar was made a permanent Corporal in place of Corporal Wilson who had been wounded and put on the supernumerary list. 

On the 12th of December 1916, Dewar was sick and was admitted to hospital. On the 26th he was recorded with Bronchitis until the 30th of December. About 2 months later, on the 19th of February 1917, he rejoined the Battalion. On the 3rd of March 1917, he was promoted to Sergeant in place of Sergeant Martin W.G. (no. 115) who was killed.

Exactly 3 months later, on the 3rd of June 1917, he was admitted again to the hospital for being sick. From the 8th - 18th of that same month he was recorded as having P.U.O (a fever of unknown origin). He was sent to the 5th General Hospital in Rouen, France for recovery.

Whilst still having P.U.O, on the 21st of June 1917, Dewar was transferred and disembarked to England. On the 23rd of June, after arriving in England he was immediately admitted to the 66th Hospital, Adm. Mil. Hosp. General Rd, in Richmond.

After nearly a month of being sick, on the 18th of July 1917, Dewar moved back to depot, Weymouth as a Sergeant under medical recovery. Later, on the 31st of July, he was evacuated sick but placed on supernumerary list. After being promoted Sergeant, and within just three months Dewar was constantly hospitalised.

On the 12th of October 1917, Dewar transferred between command depots in Weymouth and Codford. On the 2nd of January 1918, he marched out to the Overseas Training Brigade to prepare for front line service again. On the 17th of January of that same year, Dewar was discharged from hospital in England and travelled from South Hampton, reembarking in France, preparing to rejoin his Battalion.

On the 20th of January 1918, Dewar proceeded to rejoin his unit, officially rejoining his battalion on the front lines in Belgium, on the 22nd of January. On the 12th of February, Dewar proceeded to Paris on leave until the 21st of February 1918.

The next event in Dewar’s life was recorded on the 2nd of September 1918, where he was wounded in action whilst fighting in France and placed on the supernumerary list. He was admitted to the 37th C.C.S (Casualty Clearing Station) and then again to the 11th Stationary Hospital in Rouen. From there, Dewar was evacuated through that medical chain to England on the 5th of September 1918. A day later, on the 6th, Dewar was admitted to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital in Cardiff for treatment.

On the 21st of November 1918, in the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital in Dartford, Dewar contracted Influenza whilst on leave likely due to the global Spanish Flu pandemic that was happening at the time. 8 days later, on the 29th, Dewar marched from the 3rd Aux Hosp, ex Influenza on the same day, he was discharged to No. 9 Command Depot in Weymouth.

Following the Armistice, he was moved to the “Class E” list and returned to Australia on the 24th of December 1918 aboard the HMAT Takada due to contracting influenza. He disembarked on the 6th of February 1919. He was officially discharged from active service on the 4th of May 1919 after serving a total of 3 years and 241 days in the 27th Infantry Battalion, A.I.F.

After the war, on the 5th of June 1942, Dewar, at the age of 53 years and 8 months went on to serve in WW2 in the 2nd Battalion Volunteer Defence Corp. On the 11th of November 1943, he was promoted as Lieutenant. He enlisted from Wayville; South Australia and his service number was S66947. On the 25th of November 1945, he was placed on the Retired list.

Dewar went on to live the rest of his life in Semaphore, Adelaide, South Australia where he lived with his wife, Elsie Blanche Dewar. After the war they had 2 more children, Gordon born in 1920 and Shirley born in 1924. Dewar worked for the SA Harbour's Board for 38 years. He lived until 61 years of age and died on the 26th of April 1949. He was buried in West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide, where his headstone remains, reading “In memory of No. 4657 Sgt. Arthur L. Dewar 27th BTN. A.I.F, Died at Semaphore 26th April 1949 Aged 60 years. Beloved husband to Elsie and loving father to Marjorie, Gordon and Shirley.”