Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Arthur Searle CALLANDER was born on 17th March, 1891 in Port Macdonnell, South Australia

His parents were Matthew Robert CALLANDER and Mary Ann COTTER

Two of his brothers served in WW1

1. Alfred Stanley CALLANDER (SN 3047) Killed in Action on 4th August, 1916

2. John Robert CALLANDER (SN124) who returned to Australia in 1918

Another brother Frank Colin CALLANDER (SN PA/V2) served in WW2 and was discharged in 1945

Arthur married Maud Olive WALLIS on 2nd December, 1922 in South Australia

Arthur Searle Callander was born on 17 March 1891 at Port MacDonnell, near Mt Gambier South Australia. He was the son of Matthew Robert Callander and Mary Ann Cotter and grew up in a hardworking, military-oriented family. Arthur had three brothers: Alfred, died on active service; John, survived; and Frank, WWII service. As a child, Arthur went to a local school to gain a basic education.

Before enlisting, Callander worked as a labourer, though some records indicate he was also a coach trimmer. He completed a six-year apprenticeship under T. Dooar in Mount Gambier, gaining valuable trade experience. Life in these physically roles helped build his endurance and resilience, qualities essential for the harsh realities of military life. His father, Matthew, was listed as his next of kin. Arthur was a Presbyterian and worshipped at St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Mt Gambier prior to the war.

On January 5, 1915, at the age of 23, Callander enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). His enlistment records describe him as having a dark complexion, brown eyes, and black hair. Prior to enlistment, he was unmarried.

He was assigned to the 2nd Squadron, Base Light Horse Depot.  On May 26, 1915, he boarded the HMAT Afric (A19) in Adelaide departing for Egypt, where his military training would begin at Mena Camp, near Cairo.

Training in Egypt was physically demanding. The heat was extreme, and the desert terrain was unforgiving. Soldiers in the Light Horse regiments trained for mounted warfare, conducting long drills on horseback, rifle exercises, and trench warfare simulations. However, much of this training would become useless in the coming months, as warfare changed dramatically.

Callander's unit, the 9th Light Horse Regiment, was ordered to proceed to Gallipoli in mid-July 1915. Being mounted troops, they were dismounted and engaged as such due to the harsh terrain and trench warfare. He officially attached to the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (MEF) on 5 August 1915 and was fully engaged in battle.

Conditions at Gallipoli were tough. The trenches were not wide, dirty, and scantily defended from Ottoman artillery fire and sniping. The men had to labor in blistering heat during the day and bitter cold at night. Disease swept through the region, with dysentery and other illnesses propagating rapidly with unclean surroundings and food shortfalls.

Callander and his regiment took part in the August Offensive, a major Allied attempt to break through the Ottoman lines. Even though the 9th Light Horse Regiment was in a reserve role, their presence was still dangerous, as they were constantly under attack. Despite the hardships, Callander continued fighting with his comrades.

He received a gun shot wound to the head and was transferred to No 1 General Hospital in Heliopolis on 1 September 1915. He recovered, and on 9 September, 1915, he was released to resume duty at Gallipoli on the 25th October. The campaign at Gallipoli, however, was falling apart, and by December 1915 the Allied army began a total evacuation of the peninsula. Callander was among those withdrawn from Gallipoli, disembarking at Alexandria on December 26, 1915, aboard HMT Ionian. He returned to Egypt with his unit to regroup and recover from the gruelling Gallipoli campaign, marking the end of his time in one of World War I’s most infamous campaigns.

After Gallipoli the 9th Light Horse Regiment in December 1915 was now part of the Anzac Mounted Division, fighting in the Sinai and Palestine campaign against Ottoman forces. This campaign required a different kind of warfare, long-distance patrols, reconnaissance missions, and quick movement across the desert. In January 1916 Callander was promoted to Lance Corporal but reverted to Private in April after use of ‘improper language’.

The harsh desert environment took its toll on the soldiers. They had to endure intense heat, sandstorms, and long marches with limited water supplies. Callander was hospitalized multiple times due to medical issues. On November 22, 1916, he was admitted for a contused and lacerated arm but returned to duty on December 5, 1916. Later, on March 1, 1917, he was hospitalized again, this time for piles (haemorrhoids). He rejoined his unit on 21 April 1917.

However, not all of Callander’s time in the army was without incident. He was absent without leave (AWL) from May 6 to June 9, 1917, and was later disciplined, receiving seven days of Field Punishment No. 2 and forfeiting seven days’ pay.

Callander participated in the Second Battle of Gaza in 1917 which was a failure, as the heavily fortified Ottoman defences inflicted severe casualties on the attacking forces.

Callander was hospitalized in the 31st General Hospital in Port Said on October 12, 1917, and later in Moascar with an infection. He returned to his unit in January 1918 and the following month marched out to Signal Training School.

He spent more time in hospital from 10th March 1918 until 27th March at the 2nd Australian General Hospital at Port Said and was then transferred to a rest camp pending his return home.

Following a series of medical tests, Callander was declared unfit for continued service. He embarked to Australia on July 12, 1918, and was subsequently discharged in October. His total period of service was 3 years and 288 days, comprising approximately two years overseas.

Arthur married Maud Olive Wallis on 2 December 1922 and lived in Croydon, South Australia. Arthur passed away on 21 December 1946 and was buried at West Terrace Cemetery. His wife Maud had died several years earlier in 1935.

Bibliography

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