29992
RASTON, Arthur Willis
| Service Number: | 2862 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 10th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Maylands, South Australia, 1896 |
| Home Town: | Norwood (SA), South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Wheelwright |
| Memorials: | Norwood Primary School Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 27 Oct 1915: | Involvement Private, 2862, 27th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Benalla embarkation_ship_number: A24 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Oct 1915: | Embarked Private, 2862, 27th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Benalla, Adelaide | |
| 9 Jun 1916: | Wounded Australian Army (Post WW2), Private, 2862, Wounded in field in France but not evacuated. | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Private, 2862, 10th Infantry Battalion | |
| 20 Apr 1919: | Embarked Private, 2862, 10th Infantry Battalion, Embarked on the HMAT A36 Boonah |
Help us honour Arthur Willis Raston's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by St Ignatius' College
Before the war
Arthur Willis Raston was born in 1896 in Norwood, Adelaide in Australia and was the oldest son of Arthur Llewellyn Raston and Margaret Jean Duff. He grew up with his younger brother Thomas Llewellyn Raston. His religion was Methodist. His job occupation was a ‘wheelwright.’ A wheelwright was a craftsman who made wooden wheels.
Enlisting for war
Raston enlisted for the war on the 2nd of August at the age of 19. He was unmarried and shipped off to war on the 27th of October 1915 on the HMAT A24 Benalla.
During the war
Raston was originally enlisted as part of the 27th Battalion but was relocated to the British Expeditionary Force (BEF). Arthur only fought with the BEF for a few months. However, before joining the 10th Battalion, Raston fought on the Western Front with the BEF.
A war diary from July 1916 states that the 10th Battalion travelled around many towns in France. Most of the travelling between villages in France was done during the night and the training that Arthur and his fellow soldiers went through was done during the warmer months. As part of the 10th Battalion, Arthur fought in the Battle of Somme. On 9th of July, the battalion marched at midnight to Godewaersvelde where they trained for the battle.
Raston was only wounded a few times such as in the field in France on the 9th of June in 1916. Although he did not suffer any serious casualties, Arthur was unwell many times and was sick with influenza. He travelled back and forth to hospitals between September and December in 1916.
Arthur proceeded on leave to England on the 28th of July 1917 and revisited the UK many times between August 1917 to March 1918. After Raston’s return to his unit, he was ill and sent to 39th Battalion Hospital in France.
He did not spend much time fighting after his trip to England as he was hospitalised and sent to different infirmaries depending on where his unit travelled.
Medals
Throughout his time at war, Raston won three medals; the Star Medal of 1914/15, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. The Star Medal was awarded to soldiers who enlisted to fight in 1914 or 1915.
Return
Arthur Willis Raston was fortunate enough to return back home on the HMAT A36 Boonah which embarked on the 20th of April 1919. He arrived safely on the 6th of June.
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