Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Sarah HUNTLEY, 214 Charman Road, Cheltenham, Victoria.

Arthur was born in Carlton, Victoria, and spent his childhood in foster care and boys’ homes. Arthur is a veteran of the Second World War. Before his war service, he was a dyer working in the Kayser stocking factory in Richmond.

In July 1943, aged just 18, Arthur enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). He completed his initial training at No. 1 Recruit Depot in Shepparton before moving on to No. 3 Bombing and Gunnery School in Sale, Victoria. After his training was finished, Arthur was posted to No. 1 Air Gunnery School, also at Sale, for nearly 2 years. He was then was posted to RAAF Advanced Headquarters in Brisbane, where he served until his demobilisation.

Arthur was involved in towing aerial targets used in gunnery training called drogues (a kind of wind sock). ‘I got 1,587 hours up as a drogue operator,’ he said. And the best thing about his service was ‘the friends and comrades, and I really liked flying’.

Arthur also survived 2 crash landings and recalls that he bombed a surfaced Japanese submarine at Ninety Mile Beach with 9-pound lead weights. Luckily, it left quicky.
Arthur was discharged from the RAAF in May 1946. He returned to Melbourne and worked in milk transport for 27 years. He also worked as a mechanic, looking after a fleet of trucks. He then ran his own lawn mower sales and service business.

Arthur has been married twice. Sadly, his first wife Nancy died in 1988, and his second wife Shirley died in 2024. Arthur has 2 children and 4 stepchildren, enjoys following horse racing and is in the betting club at the retirement village. He is also a keen supporter of Richmond in the AFL.

To serving members he recommends: ‘Keep out of trouble and stick at it’.

And the secret to Arthur’s longevity? He has always been active and has a glass of milk and two cans of beers every day.