Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Early Life

Arnold Meredith Moulden was born on the 21st of June 1893, the son of Bayfield Moulden and Frances Elizabeth Meredith at Semaphore (SA Birth Registration 533/31). Bayfield Moulden was a prominent Adelaide Solicitor. Bayfield and Elizabeth had eight children - Violet Mary (b1878 - 1956), Bayfield (b1880 – d1880), Helen Frances (b1882 - d1904), Emily Meredith (b1984 - d1965), Philipps Forbes (b1886 - d1888), Owen Meredith (b1888 - d1968) and Arnold Meredith (b1893 – d1983) and Howard (b1895 - d1959). The family photo below was taken around 1897 with their six surviving children.

Schooling

Arnold attended Queen’s School, North Adelaide from at least 1903 to 1906. He came second in the 100 yards flat for Under 11 at the 1903 school sports. In 1906 Arnold passed the Primary Examinations.

From 1906, Arnold attended St Peter’s College, passing the Junior Examinations (1907), Senior Examinations (1908 & 1909 both with special honours) and Higher Public Examinations (1910). Arnold won a Government Bursary to attend Adelaide University.

Arnold played cricket for St Peter’s in the B Grade in the 1909/10 & 1910/11 seasons. In December 1910 he played in the Inter-collegiate match against PAC.

Arnold was a member of the Volunteer Cadets for four years from 1907-1910.

Adelaide University

In 1911 Arnold commenced studying Law at Adelaide University. In November 1914 Arnold awarded his LLB and was recommended for the David Murray Scholarship and the Stow prizes. He applied for and was admitted to the Bar in December 1914. The Chief Justice (Sir Samuel Way) remarked that Mr. Moulden was in the third generation of a family of lawyers.

University Sport

Cricket
Arnold commenced playing cricket for the University immediately after leaving St Peter’s College. He was selected in the A Grade team for a match in February 1912, however he did not bat or bowl. He may have been given the opportunity because of player unavailability during the University vacation.

He played the rest of the 1911/12 season in the B Grade. In the 1912/13 & 1913/14 seasons he was in the B Grade except for a single A Grade game. He had a batting average of 34.0 and took 13 wickets off 50 overs during the 1912/13 season with a top score of 132. He also scored 104 v West Torrens in 1913/14.

Football
In 1913, Arnold played B Grade football for Adelaide University in the Adelaide Student’s Association.

Other Sport

Arnold also competed in the 1914 SA Lawn Tennis Tournament and the March 1915 East Torrens Tennis Tournament.

World War I

Arnold was in the final stages of his Law Degree when WWI broke out. He was a Lieutenant in the 78th Infantry (Adelaide Rifles). In June 1915 he qualified to be a 2nd Lieutenant and in September and October 1915, Arnold was in training at Duntroon Military College, Canberra.

In early December 1915, Lieutenant A.M. Moulden took part in a Military Display and on the 15th he applied for a commission. At that time, he was described as 5’8” and 150 lbs.

On the 27th of May 1916 Arnold was attested for service abroad as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 43rd Battalion. By December 1916 he had risen to the rank of Lieutenant.

Arnold embarked at Adelaide on the A19 ‘Afric’ on the 9th of June 1916 and on arrival in Britain he was taken on strength of the 48th Battalion. He served in France and had a period in hospital with tonsillitis. On the 22nd of January 1917 Arnold was detached from the 48th and commenced duties with the 4th A Division Headquarters. He was promoted to Captain on the 10th of July 1917. He was seconded as Administrative Staff Trainee 4th Australian Division on the 21st of September 1917.

On 7th November 1917 Arnold was mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig’s Despatches for distinguished and gallant service and devotion to duty during the period 26/2/17 to 20/9/17. From the 26 March 1818 he was appointed Divisional Court Martial Officer 4th Australian Division in addition to his AST role. Arnold also acted in the role of Deputy Assistant Adjutant General. After hostilities ceased Arnold was able to have short periods of leave in the UK, Paris and Italy.

Post WW1

He returned to Australia on 8th May 1919 and his appointment was terminated on 4th August 1919. In June 1919 Arnold was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) and was again mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig's latest despatches as one whose name was deserving of special mention.

Sport and Recreation

By 1921 Arnold had joined the Parkside Tennis Club and was playing Class 1B Pennant Tennis, he later played in St Peter’s Old Boys tennis v PAC and competed in Lawn Tennis Carnivals (1926).

By 1923 he was a member at Royal Adelaide Golf Club and a regular player of the game. Arnold usually went to Victor Harbor for a couple of weeks in the summer and from 1922 onward he regularly went to Mt Kosciusko for skiing in the winter and he was among the early members of the Skiing Club of Australia. Arnold’s annual skiing holiday in 1926 nearly cost Arnold and his five companions their lives when they were lost in the snow in blizzard conditions.

The experience in 1926 did not put Arnold off skiing. In 1928 Arnold and Dr Lorimer Dods broke the record for the over 34-mile journey from Hotel Kosciusko to the peak and return by completing the trip in 6 hours and 55 minutes. In 1931 the Ski Runners were photographed outside the Chalet at Kosciusko. It was through their mutual love of skiing that Arnold met Miss Mary Adams of Sydney. The couple continued to return to Mt Kosciusko long after their marriage and the birth of children.

Family Life

On The 19 December 1933 Arnold married Miss Mary Adams, the daughter of Dr and Mrs H.C. Adams of Rosemont Avenue, Woollahra (Eastern Sydney). Arnold and Mary honeymooned in New Zealand.

The couple lived a 238 Melbourne Street, North Adelaide. Pictured (see document) is the Moulden residence in 1935.

In September 1934, it was reported that Arnold was recovering from a long illness. Arnold’s Father (Bayfield) passed away in 1933 and his mother (Frances) passed away in 1935, aged 81 years. On the 9th of December 1934, Mary and Arnold had a daughter, Barbara, their second daughter, Gillian (Jill) was born on the 17th of May 1937.

Arnold continued to play golf and tennis and by 1937 he was also playing squash. He became a member of the Corinthian Club.

Mary frequently travelled to Sydney to visit family and friends and in return, the couple frequently had Mary’s family and friends to stay at their home in Melbourne Street. During WWII Mary was actively involved fundraising on behalf of the Red Cross.

Arnold took is daughters with him to watch the Sport Car Club’s hill climb events at Glen Osmond in June 1946. In March 1949 Mary left by ship to travel to Britain with her Aunt. They travelled in the UK and spent three weeks in Paris. Later in the trip Mary travelled to the continent with a female friend. She returned to South Australia in October 1949.

The couple sold their Melbourne Street property in 1951 and moved to a larger property at 7 Edwin Terrace, Gilberton.

In 1952 Barbara was the Head Prefect at Woodlands and in 1953 she made her debut. The family continued to holiday at Victor Harbor and in 1961, Arnold and Mary were among the guests at the opening of the Hotel Victor.

Career and Community Activities

In July 1919 Arnold returned to work at the family’s law firm ‘Moulden & Sons’. He had a long and successful legal career.

Arnold became involved in some property development activities and in 1925 he was a shareholder in a company formed to expand the Grenfell Building.

In November 1932 Arnold stood for election for the MacDonnell Ward in the Adelaide City Council. He held the role until November 1945 when he was elected as an Alderman. Arnold retired from the Council in April a1949 after 16 years of service. The extended Moulden family had played a significant role in civic activities. His cousin Sir Frank Beaumont Moulden had been Lord Mayor of Adelaide (1919 – 1921).

Arnold was a member of Alliance Françoise and by 1932 he was the Acting Consular Agent for France in Adelaide, he was later appointed French Consul in Adelaide, a role he held for many years.

In May 1935 Arnold was Judge Advocate in a Court Martial case. In April 1938, Mr. John Owen Moulden of Unley Road, Unley, was admitted to the bar on the motion of Mr. A. M. Moulden. Mr A.M. Moulden said that Mr J. O. Moulden was the fourth generation of his family to be admitted as a practitioner of the court. John Owen Moulden was the son of Arnold’s brother, Owen Meredith Moulden.

In July 1939 Arnold was appointed to the Civil Defence role of deputy director for clearance of areas and in January 1942 he was sworn in as director – evacuations.

Arnold was a member of the North Adelaide Men’s Branch of the Liberal and Country League.

From 1944-1952 Arnold was the Adelaide University Lectured in Legal Ethics and Accounts. He was president of the South Australian Law Society from 1951- 1952 and he became an Honorary Member of that body in 1970.

In December 1946 a newspaper article stated that Arnold was distinguished looking and athletic. The article (see document) also states that Arnold had not had his photograph in print for 14 years. This is somewhat at odds with the pictures of Arnold shown (see document). The article does however provide some interesting details of business interests and his role as president of the S.A. Taxpayer’s Association.

By April 1949 Arnold was chairman of the Parliamentary and By-laws committee and in June 1949 he was chairman of the directors of the Wakefield Street Private Hospital Ltd.

Death

Arnold Meredith Moulden died on the 2nd of February 1983, aged 89 years his last abode had been at Medindie.


Author EE (Beth) Filmer

For the complete profile including photographs, newspaper articles, documents and sources prepared for the AUFC/AUCC WWI Memorial Project (in the period 2015-2019) please see the document attached.