S393
CHECKER, Arnold
| Service Number: | 3138 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 13 October 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 50th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Gumeracha, South Australia, 12 May 1892 |
| Home Town: | Kersbrook, Adelaide Hills, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Kersbrook, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | A patient sufferer at rest, Gumeracha, South Australia, Australia, 7 May 1981, aged 88 years |
| Cemetery: |
Kersbrook General Cemetery Kersbrook Cemetery 1671 South Para Rd Kersbrook, South Australia 5231 Australia |
| Memorials: | Kersbrook Primary School Roll of Honor, Kersbrook Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 13 Oct 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3138, 50th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Dec 1916: | Involvement Private, 3138, 50th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Berrima embarkation_ship_number: A35 public_note: '' | |
| 16 Dec 1916: | Embarked Private, 3138, 50th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Berrima, Adelaide | |
| 11 Aug 1918: | Wounded 3138 | |
| 8 Jan 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 3138, 50th Infantry Battalion | |
| Date unknown: | Honoured Military Medal |
Arnold Checker
Arnold undertook basic training with C Coy Depot Battalion at Mitcham Camp, on 27 October 1916. With the 50th Battalion, he embarked the Berrima in Adelaide on 16 December and disembarked at Plymouth, England on 16 February 1917. He served with the 15th training Battalion at Hurdcott and Sutton Veny in February and March and was then transferred to Codford on 12 March. His unit was sent to France via Southampton on 14 June.
During action near Lugny, France, on 26 September Arnold sustained a severe shell wound to the right arm. On 8 October he was transferred to University War Hospital, Southampton for treatment. Base Records, in Melbourne notified his parents that Arnold had been wounded and advised that he was recovering. He was able to rejoin his unit in France on 8 January 1918.
Arnold was awarded the Military Medal on 1 June 1918, receiving the following citation; “3138 Pt. Arnold Checker. During the operations at Villers-Bretonneux on 24/25 April these men, who were stretcher-bearers, carried out their duties under most intense shell and machine-gun fire with an utter disregard for their own personal safety. Their work took them across difficult country exposed to heavy enemy fire, but they were cool and courageous throughout and were instrumental in saving many lives.”1.
The Kapunda Herald of 14 March 1919, mentioned Arnold being awarded the Military Medal.
Arnold was wounded on a second occasion at Villers-Bretonneux, in France, on 11 August, sustaining a severe wound to the right leg and a head wound, which necessitated being invalided to England for treatment at Dartford Hospital until 31 August. He returned to Australia on the Orsova on 8 January 1919 and was discharged on 27 March. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal and the Military Medal.
The Kapunda Herald of 4 March announced that a “welcome home social”, was held for Bert and Leslie Hobby, Arnold Checker and Harold Stephenson.
After the war, Arnold married Amy Rose Harvey. They worked the Checker family farm which had been settled in the 1870s.
The Military Medal awarded to Pte. Checker.
Arnold Checker died on 7 May 1981, aged 88 and was buried at Kersbrook Cemetery.
Source: 1. Photo and citation courtesy of R.R.Freeman: Hurdecombe’s Hungry Half Hundred.
www. naa; B2455; Checker.A. Barcode 3239526.
www.trove.nla.gov/ The Kapunda Herald.
Submitted 22 August 2023 by christopher collins
Biography contributed by Modbury High School
Arnold Checker was born on 12 May 1892 in Gumeracha, a small town in South Australia. He was raised in the nearby community of Kersbrook, where he lived with his family. His mother, Mrs. Alice Jane Checker, was listed as his next of kin, and his father was Mr. William Checker. Before the outbreak of war, Arnold worked as a farmer.
Arnold Checker enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on 13 October 1916. He joined as a private and was assigned to the 50th Battalion, 8th Reinforcement. He embarked from Adelaide aboard HMAT A35 Berrima on 16 December 1916..
During his military service, Arnold faced many challenges. He was wounded in action on 11 August 1918 in France, suffering injuries to his right leg and head. Prior to that, he was also hospitalised multiple times for illnesses including diarrhoea and Pyrexia. He was repatriated back to Australia in November 1918.
His discharge came on 27 March 1919, marking over two years of service overseas.
On 28 March 1923, he married Amy Rose Harvey in Kersbrook. Amy, born in 1901 to Robert Harvey and Harriet Giles, also came from a large local family. Together, they had three sons; Gordon William Checker (1923-1999); Milton Harvey Checker (1928-2012); Keith David Checker (1930-2008)
Arnold lived the rest of his life in South Australia, passing away on 7 May 1981 in Gumeracha, at the age of 88. He is commemorated on Rolls of Honour at Kersbrook.