Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

German immigrant, Joachim Dau married Martha Rye, a Geelong lass in 1865.  They ultimately raised a large family of seventeen, first at Somerton and later at Wandong, Victoria. One son, Frederick, served with the 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles during the Boer War and was killed in action in South Africa in 1901 and three others saw military service - Charles and Walter in World War 1 and Arthur during both World Wars. Charles died of wounds in 1918.

Arthur Herbert Dow (1891-1979) was born at Wandong on 23 July 1891. Spelling his surname Dow rather than Dau, he first enlisted in the Commonwealth Military Forces on 16 November 1908, for five years. He was then 18 and gave his occupation as blacksmith’s apprentice, at Warburton. He was appointed as a Sapper to the Royal Australian Engineers and by 1 June 1913 had reached the rank of Warrant Officer. In November 1913 he renewed his enlistment for a further three years.

Arthur enlisted in the AIF on 10 September 1914, shortly after the outbreak of war, aged 23. He gave his occupation as Military Staff Clerk and religion as Church of England. He was appointed Engineers Clerk with the rank of Warrant Officer, 1st Australian Division. His regimental number was No.1. He embarked at Melbourne aboard the Orvieto on 21 October 1914 and arrived at Alexandria in Egypt on 8 December 1914.

Arthur left Egypt for Gallipoli on 5 April 1915. He watched the landing on 25 April but did not go ashore until several days later. He served at Gallipoli until he fell ill on 14 June and was hospitalized at Lemnos. He was discharged on 18 June and returned to his unit at Anzac Cove the next day, however, he was detached for duty in Egypt on 26 July and arrived at Alexandria three days later. He did not return to Gallipoli.

Arthur was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant at Tel-el-Kabir on 5 March 1916 and transferred from the Australian Records Section to Headquarters, 4th Australian Division Engineers. On 25 April 1916 he was promoted to Lieutenant and Adjutant and on 2 June embarked for France. On 13 November 1916, he was Mentioned in Dispatches by General Sir Douglas Haig for ‘good general service in France from 15 June 1916 to 6 October 1916’.

On 16 June 1917 he was promoted to Captain and Adjutant. On 20 August, he transferred to the 12th Field Company Engineers, then on 22 September transferred to the 4th Division Engineers Headquarters.

After leave in early December, Arthur was seconded to the Engineers Training Depot at Brightlingsea in England. On 3 May 1918 he left for France and was taken on strength of the 4th Field Company Australian Engineers. In March 1918, Arthur was recommended for the Military Cross and his award was gazetted on 3 June 1918. The citation read:

‘For conspicuous energy in forwarding Engineer material to the front zone in the YPRES fighting from 24-9-17 to 24-10-17. His organization of the convoys was well thought out, and his attention to the details of handling was such as to greatly reduce the time convoys were in the shelling area. On every occasion the stores reached their destination. His zeal and organizing abilities have been conspicuous since the commencement of warlike operations. He has a thorough knowledge of his work and has proved resourceful and reliable under arduous conditions. His devotion to duty has at all times been most marked.’

On 10 August 1918 Arthur was wounded in action, receiving gun shot wounds to his hand and leg, but remained on duty. On 27 September 1918 the 1st Division was granted home leave to Australia and he embarked aboard the Port Sydney at Taranto on 8 October. He arrived home on 2 December 1918 and was discharged on 31 January 1919.

Arthur volunteered his services again during World War 2. On 28 May 1940 he enlisted at Caulfield and was appointed to the rank of Major in the Royal Australian Engineers, No. VX18193. By then he was 48 years old and a civil servant who lived at East St. Kilda. He had married Edna Charlotte Caroline Ford in 1919 and they had two children. 

On 1 October 1940, Arthur embarked for the Middle East, arriving in Palestine on 3 November. He served there until 11 August 1942 when he left to return to Australia, arriving back on 10 October. He served for the remainder of the war in Australia and was discharged on 1 February 1946. He died in Brisbane in 1979 aged 88.

Source: http://www.westgarthtown.org.au/ww1/families/winter.html