S23001
ARNEY, Norman Lawrence
| Service Number: | 1880 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 50th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Woodside, South Australia, 10 August 1896 |
| Home Town: | Angle Vale, Playford, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farm Hand |
| Died: | 30 January 1992, aged 95 years, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Enfield Memorial Park, South Australia |
| Memorials: | Karoonda Wanbi WW1 Roll of Honour, Virginia District WW1 Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 13 Jul 1916: | Involvement Private, 1880, 50th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Seang Bee embarkation_ship_number: A48 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 13 Jul 1916: | Embarked Private, 1880, 50th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Seang Bee, Adelaide |
Help us honour Norman Lawrence Arney's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Xavier Two Wells
Norman Lawrence Arney was born on 10 August 1897 in Woodside, South Australia. He was the third of nine children born to William Henry Arney and Rachel Moore Lindsay Arney. Before he enlisted for service, he listed his occupation as “Farmhand”,
When he enlisted in the War, he listed his father as his next of kin. Norman was 19 years and 6 months old when he enlisted; he was 5 feet and 8 inches. He had light brown hair with hazel eyes and perfect vision in both eyes. His religion was Methodist.
Norman Lawrence Arney enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 15th March 1916. He embarked from Adelaide on the troopship HMAT Seang Bee (A48) on 13th July 1916. He arrived in the UK disembarking at Plymouth 9 September 1916. He trained further on the Salisbury Plains near Stonehenge and prepared for fighting in the trenches on the Western Front. After arrival in England, Norman moved to the training area at Estaples before marching into France in Nomvember to join the unit on the Western Front.
Throughout his time in France, he experienced periods of illness and was sent to the hospital a few times. He was admitted with mumps and an infection in December 1916 returning to his unit in February 1917. The following year he was again hospitalised wiih an infection and returned to the field in April. Later in 1918 he took leave and was sent to hospital while in England for illness.
This was common for soldiers due to harsh trench conditions, cold weather, and disease. He returned to duty each time after recovering and continued serving with his battalion in France. On 15 December 1917, he rejoined his unit, but again later became sick and required further time in hospital.
Arney returned to Australia on 7th February 1919, having served abroad for approximately 2 years and 257 days and a total of 3 years and 51 days of service.
Norman Lawrence Arney settled back into civilian life in South Australia. In September 1920, he married Lyla Madge Fatchen at the Methodist Church in Angle Vale. They were married for 46 years. The couple went on to have four children: Phyllis Merle (born 1 August 1921 in Gawler), Jean Gwendoline (born 22 April 1923 in Murray Bridge), Ralph Lawrence (born 18 July 1924 in Willaston) and Daphne Jean (born 26 September 1925 in Willaston).
Norman made his home in a rural setting: Records show him listed as a creditor under the Farmers Relief Act in 1931 alongside his brother William Hurtle, both living at Wanbi and farming sheep. He continued farming into at least 1936, emphasising his lifelong connection to agriculture and the land. Norman’s legacy of service echoed in his family: Three of his children enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force for the Second World War, carrying on the family tradition of military service.
Norman lived to the age of 94, passing away on 30th January 1992 in Adelaide, and was laid to rest at Enfield Memorial Park, Clearview, South Australia.
Referencing list
Anu.edu.au. (2025). On the land | Archives. [online] Available at: https://archives.anu.edu.au/exhibitions/hard-labour/land [Accessed 9 Nov. 2025].
Findagrave.com. (2023). Norman Lawrence Arney (1897-1992) - Find a Grave... [online] Available at: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/111257730/norman_lawrence-arney.
Memories.net. (2018). Memories. [online] Available at: https://app.memories.net/memorials/normanlawrence-arney-85048?utm [Accessed 9 Nov. 2025].
Playford’s Past. (2025). Norman Lawrence Arney. [online] Available at: https://playfordspast.recollect.net.au/nodes/view/473?utm [Accessed 9 Nov. 2025].
Terrace, V. (2025). View digital copy. [online] Naa.gov.au. Available at: https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=3035899 [Accessed 9 Nov. 2025].
Thelockedjournal.com. (2025). The Locked Journal. Pedigrees. Norman Lawrence ARNEY [1760]. [online] Available at: https://www.thelockedjournal.com/webs/pedigrees/1760.html
Vwma.org.au. (2025). Australian Soldiers, Memorials and Military History. [online] Available at: https://vwma.org.au/explore/projects/203903/edit?t=1762649236676 [Accessed 9 Nov. 2025].
Welcome To Zscaler Directory Authentication 2025, Birtwistlewiki.com.au, viewed 9 November 2025, https://www.birtwistlewiki.com.au/wiki/50th_Battalion?utm
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