SHIELDS, Arthur John
| Service Number: | 2942 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 20 September 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 12th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Somerset, Tasmania, Australia, December 1897 |
| Home Town: | Smithton, Circular Head, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Died of wounds, France, 30 July 1916 |
| Cemetery: |
Puchevillers British Cemetery, France Plot II, Row b, Grave No. 60, Puchevillers British Cemetery, Puchevillers, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Hobart Roll of Honour, Launceston Cenotaph |
Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Len Shields and his twin brother Arthur Shields were born in Somerset Tasmania, a small township to the west of Burnie, in 1897. Their mother allowed them to join up, on the proviso they allocated 4 shillings a day out of pay to her (Pay would have been 6 shillings a day). Mary Elizabeth Shields, mother, lived in Smithton, Tasmania and she was a widow, with two small children who probably relied on her sons to provide for the majority of her income.
Arthur John Shields was wounded in the abdomen on the 23 July 1916 at Pozieres. He was transferred through a number of aid stations till he made it to the 44th Casualty Clearing Station. His brother Len Shields of the same battalion was in the mean time buried and killed by shell fire at Pozieres on the 26 July 1916. Arthur died of wounds on the 30 July 1916 and was buried in Puchevillers British Cemetery which is about 30 kilometres behind the lines from Pozieres. The twin brothers were only 19 years of age. Their mother was granted a pension in respect of each.
An older brother William Shields was and original member of the 11th Battalion and was wounded in action three times, including the Gallipoli landing. Another brother Clarence Shields served with the 15th Battalion and returned to Australia in 1918.