SHOOBERT, Arthur Selwyn
| Service Number: | 2184 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 3 March 1916, West Maitland |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 1st Pioneer Battalion |
| Born: | Quirindi, New South Wales, Australia, May 1887 |
| Home Town: | Quirindi, Liverpool Plains, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Station Hand |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Chuignes, France, 23 August 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Heath Cemetery, Picardie III. D. 19., |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Quirindi & District Memorial and Clock Tower |
World War 1 Service
| 3 Mar 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2184, 1st Pioneer Battalion, West Maitland | |
|---|---|---|
| 3 May 1916: | Involvement Private, 2184, 1st Pioneer Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '4' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Clan McGillivray embarkation_ship_number: A46 public_note: '' | |
| 3 May 1916: | Embarked Private, 2184, 1st Pioneer Battalion, HMAT Clan McGillivray, Sydney | |
| 5 Oct 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 1st Pioneer Battalion | |
| 23 Aug 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2184, 1st Pioneer Battalion, "The Last Hundred Days" |
Help us honour Arthur Selwyn Shoobert's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Michael Silver
Arthur Selwyn Shoobert was a station hand in the Pine Ridge area west of Quirindi, New South Wales when he enlisted at Maitland in March 1916.
He left for overseas in late July with reinforcements for the 1st Pioneer Battalion. He was promoted to Lance Corporal in October 1917, but in March 1918 wrote to his commanding officer seeking his re-instatement as a private. He wrote: 'As I feel that a weakness of my voice would be a serious handicap to my work as an NCO in any active fighting, I apply to revert to the ranks so that my stripe may be available to a more suitable man in that respect.'
Private Shoobert was killed in action during the Battle of Chuignes, France on 23 August 1918 and was later buried in Heath Cemetery, Harbonnieres.
The cablegram to his family advising of his death contained the letters DCM (Distinguisherd Conduct Medal) after his name. A few months later his wife Edith began seeking information on the award but was told that base records did not contain any reference to an award and that 'the cabled information is erroneous'.
Despite repeated letters and enquiries, even through the Federal Member for Darling Edward Blakeley, the DCM award was never identified.
Private Shoobert's name is listed on the war memorial at Tambar Spriings, New South Wales.
Credit: RG McLean
Click images to start slideshow.