Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Albert Arthur Semmens born at Hookina in December 1896. His father Herbert Semmens was a farmer at Hookina in the 1880s but was killed by a horse at the Hookina racetrack in 1910. Herbert’s farming life was extremely difficult given the marginal land he leased. Herbert often wrote to the government about the difficulties he suffered, seeking relief from government fees so he could sustain his farm and family. Herbert left behind ten children and his widow.  There is little left at Hookina or Kanyacka and farming must have been extremely difficult in those times.          

Albert was underaged when World War One broke out. So he changed his name and age to one of his brother’s and enlisted on 8 December 1914 at Oaklands Park, stating he was 19 years old, when he was not. He had a forged permission letter, purportedly from his Mother, who by then had established a nursing hostel in Eight Street Quorn and re-married as Lilian Pickforth. The forged “permission” letter forms part of Albert’s service records and is easily proved as a forgery.

In July 1915 the game was up. By this time, Albert’s mother became aware of exactly where he was. She wrote to the AIF advising them of Albert’s whereabouts, his age, true identity and asking that “…action be taken to adjust the matter on account of Life Assurance”. This did not stop him going to Gallipoli and serving in the remainder of the war. He was promoted through the ranks from time to time during that conflict.

Albert served in the 9^th Light Horse Brigade, going to Anzac Cove in August 1915 and then on to Egypt in the 4^th Light Horse Brigade by 1917. He was discharged in early 1920 from London.

After being demobilized, Arthur returned to South Australia where he joined the SA Police force in the 1920’s until the early 1930’s. At 6' 4" tall, he was apparently well known in Adelaide.  He led an interesting life by all accounts. For a time he looked after the town hall at Port Augusta and then lived in Adelaide.  

He made the Advertiser on many occasions in the 1920’s as a policeman and his wife was later prosecuted on a number of occasions for telling fortunes and card readings.   During World War Two, as many South Australians did, he went on serve in the army again. In this conflict he was a Sergeant at Keswick Barracks.

In 1969 Albert wrote to the Army seeking an Anzac medal as he states he “…remained until the night of the evacuation 18 and 19 December 1915…”. The medal was granted and Albert passed away in 1979, having participated in many Anzac Parades. The Semmens family have a long history in South Australia in the McLaren Vale and in the Port Augusta areas.