FORBES, Arthur Henry
| Service Number: | 2273 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 28 February 1916, Sydney, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 55th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Redfern, New South Wales, March 1889 |
| Home Town: | Redfern, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Bricklayer |
| Died: | Natural causes, Hornsby, New South Wales, 16 March 1967 |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 28 Feb 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2273, Sydney, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Sep 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2273, 55th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Port Sydney embarkation_ship_number: A15 public_note: '' | |
| 4 Sep 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2273, 55th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Port Sydney, Sydney | |
| 2 Apr 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 2273, 55th Infantry Battalion, The Outpost Villages - German Withdrawal to Hindenburg Line, GSW (left leg) |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stuart Forbes
Arthur was a 27 year old Bricklayer living with his wife Emily at 92 Gloucester St in The Rocks when he joined the AIF on 28 February 1916. He had no children, but had 7 brothers and 2 sisters. Two of his younger brothers served, Harold in the 56th Battalion and Robert in the Siege Artillery of Sydney's Coastal Defence.
Assigned with 152 others to the 4th Reinforcement for the 55th Battalion he embarked HMAT Port Sydney 4 September for Plymouth then France arriving 21 December 1916 in time for one of the coldest winters on record. Taken ‘on strength’ 8th Feb 1917 at Trones Wood Camp, moved into frontline trenches between Lesboeufs and Gueudecourt on 12th February and returned to Trones Wood Camp on 15th February. Constant shelling, MG and sniping, mud and snow. Moved back into frontline trenches on 25th February and relieved on 1st March went back to Trones Wood Camp. Back in support on 6th March near Delville Wood and moved to the front on 10th March in Sunray Trench. Out again on the 14th. Constant shelling, MG and sniping. 17th March moved to former German trenches near Beaulencourt. 20th ordered to positions near Haplincourt and Villers-au-Flos resulting in a skirmish in the cemetery. Moved up to Velu and Bancourt 27th March. Wounded in action in the field 2 April 1917 shot in left leg during an assault on the village of Doignies (about 100Km from the Belgium border) prior to the 1st Bullecourt on 11 April. Advanced casualty clearing station 4 April, then train 5 April to hospital at Rouen, Evac from Rouen to City of London Hospital 22 April 1917. Returned to Australia September/ October 1917 on HMT Borda A30.
Arthur, having been wounded, was discharged in February 1918 and resumed life as a Bricklayer.
He and Emily lived mostly around the Hurstville area and had a son, also Arthur Henry, and also a Bricklayer.
Arthur's father John died in 1928 and his mother Ellen in 1938. After Emily died in June 1945 Arthur lived with his son and daughter-in-law until his death in 1967. I never met Arthur but I'm told he was a happy, cheery and easy going bloke.