Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

John was born on 7 Aug 1895 at Evandale (near Payneham, SA) to John Peter Arnoldt and Emily Arnoldt (nee Oke).  There were 8 children in the family, 2 boys and 6 girls, of which he was fourth eldest.  The family moved from Crystal Brook to Lipson after the death of their eldest child, arriving in 1903.  His father was a saddler/harness maker who had a shop in the Tumby Bay township in Lipson Road, near the present day MGA building; the family also had a small farm in the Hundred of Hutchison.  The family name is spelled both Arnold and Arnoldt in both the school and Army records

John was enrolled at Tumby Bay school in 1905 and left at the end of 1906 when his family returned to Adelaide.  On completion of schooling he became an apprentice hairdresser in Adelaide. It is thought that he then returned to Tumby Bay and remained in this employ with Mr. J. L. Warne  until his enlistment in the Army at the age of 19.  At the time of enlistment he recorded his occupation as hairdresser, so he possibly had completed his apprenticeship at this stage.

He was posted to 2nd Training Battalion (Bn) at Mitcham for basic training, on completion of which he was transferred to 16th Bn on the formation of that Bn.  

The 16th Bn was raised on 16 Sep 1914, six weeks after the outbreak of the First World War. Three-quarters of the Bn were recruited in Western Australia, the remainder in South Australia.  The recruits were first united when the Bn trained together in Victoria before embarking aboard HMAT “Ceramic” on 26 Dec 1914; after a brief stop in Albany (WA)  the Bn proceeded to Egypt, arriving at Alexandria in Feb 1915.

In this location the Bn combined with its parent Brigade, the 4th Brigade, and  became part of the Australian and New Zealand Division, where they undertook further training.  The 4th Brigade landed at Anzac Cove, Gallipoli, late in the afternoon of 25 April 1915.

Within a week after the landing, the 16th  Bn was thrown into the attack on Bloody Angle suffering very heavy casualties. John was one of these casualties, being killed in action (KIA) on 2 May 1915, only 1 week after landing at Gallipoli!

He is among the many who have no known resting place at Gallipoli.  He is commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial and his name is also recorded on the Tumby Bay Memorial.

From May to August the Bn was heavily involved in establishing and defending the front line of the ANZAC beachhead, and in August the 4th Brigade attacked Hill 971. The hill was taken at great cost, although only for a short time, before Turkish reinforcements forced the Australians to withdraw. The Bn served at Gallipoli until the withdrawal in December 1915

John's mother received a pension of 10/- ($1) a fortnight, increased to 20/-  ($2) a fortnight in Aug 1915, for the loss of her son.

Compiled by Geoff Stewart - RSL Tumby Bay Jul 19

Son of John Peter and Emily Arnold, of 213, Halifax St., Adelaide.

Brother-in-law: R. McGOWAN, 7th Field Ambulance, killed in action.

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal