Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Military Medal Recommendation made on October 14, 1917

'During the advance from BROODSEINDE on 9th October, 1917, this N.C.O.'s Company was held up by an enemy machine gun in DAISY WOOD. He secured a position for his Lewis Gun, and eventually succeeded in silencing the enemy gun, thus enabling his Company to go forward and establish on the objective. Later in the day he was again successful in silencing a gun in BUSY WOOD, in which was a nest of the enemy which had been playing havoc with our troops while advancing and consolidating. He collected ammunition from the killed and wounded as he moved forward and was so enabled to keep his gun in action throughout the day without having to send back for supplies.'

George Arthur was born in Bendigo in 1894 to parents Edwin and Emily Arthur of Pegleg Road, Eaglehawk.

He enlisted in Brunswick on March 24, 1916 and was assigned to the 14th Reinforcements for the 21st Battalion. Following just 4 months training the reinforcements embarked on board HMAT A32 Themistocles on 28 July 1916. He would arrive at the front in France on December 2, 1916 just as the brutal winter of 1916/17 set in.

George Arthur gained promotion to Lance Corporal in May and then Corporal in October 1917 following his brave actions above at BROODSEINDE on 9th October, 1917.

Recent research by the War Memorial would suggest George’s action on October 9, 1917 was called the first battle of Passchendaele, or the battle of Poelcappelle with the ridge upon which Passchendaele stood as its objective. Like earlier battles in the Ypres offensive, the aim of the Poelcappelle attack was to secure a series of objectives in turn, protected by a heavy artillery barrage; the troops involved would be drawn from the 49th and 66th British, and 2nd Australian Divisions. Rain, however, had begun to deluge an already poorly drained battlefield, and adequate numbers of guns were unable to be brought within range. The infantry's advance also wallowed in the mud. The Australians were able to secure some of their objectives for a short time, but, with little artillery support and both flanks open, they were forced to withdraw. The 2nd Australian Division sustained 1,250 casualties in the battle.[1]

In January 1918 he is selected for special duty with the Imperial Army and proceeds to England for training. Promoted now to Sergeant he along with a select group travel by ship via Italy to the port city of Basra (now an Iraqi city close to the Iran, Kuwait border) to join the Dunster Force.

The Dunster Force was part of British General Dunsterville's mission of 200 officers and non commissioned officers on its march through Persia. At the end of 1917 volunteers were called for, largely among colonial corps, to proceed to an unknown destination upon a secret mission. Those awarded Military Medals for bravery were often targeted and individuals who showed strong character, adventurous spirit, especially good stamina, capable of organizing, training, and eventually leading, irregular troops. The main object proved to be that of re-establishing, under British officers, part of the dissolving Russian and Russo Armenian forces in the Caucasus and on the Persian border. [2]

George would be joined by Sergeant William Schultz MM from Emu Creek near Bendigo on the voyage to Basra with the Dunster Force. George would serve just on an action packed year with the Dunster Force in Persia and return to England via Bombay, India in mid March 1919. He would return to Australia on HMAT Devanha in June 1919.

DETAILS:

Service Number: 5292

Born: Bendigo

Address on Enlistment: Pegleg Road, Eaglehawk

Age at Enlistment: 22

Occupation: Labourer

Served: Western Front.

Unit: 21st Battalion

Final Rank: Sergeant

Fate: Returned to Australia 8 May 1919

Died: Unknown

Military Medal Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 76
Date: 23 May 1918

BROODSEINDE on 9th October, 1917.

‘Accordingly, over wet ground, an effort was made on October 9th, on a front of 13,500 yards, to approach Passchendaele- then a considerable village, with many buildings and part of its red brick church standing, visible for miles around, on the next section of the main ridge.’[1] Page 373. Bean

[1] AWM website https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/E84336

[2] AWM website https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C43058

[3] Anzac to Amiens, C.E.W.Bean. Penguin Books.2014. P.373.