Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Arthur Reuben ARNOLD, was born in Marrickville in Sydney, on 2 May 1894, and he went to school at Enmore Superior Public School. His parents were Joseph H Arnold and Belinda Arnold (née Hare). He joined the NSWGR&T as a Temporary junior porter employed in the Traffic Branch at Sydney Coaching Stock with a pay rate of two shillings and six pence per day, according to NSW Government Gazette No. 95 (page 3986), dated 21 June 1912. According to NSW Government Gazette No. 101 (page 3926), dated 4 June 1915, his pay rate was increased to six shillings per day but with no other change in his position.
On 11 October 1915, Arthur enlisted in the AIF with the rank of Private (Service Number 4726) and was assigned to the 15th Reinforcements to the 4th Battalion. As his father was no longer living, he nominated his mother, Mrs Belinda Arnold, as his next of kin. Records show that Belinda Arnold had in fact married Harry Collis Pettit in 1906, following the death of Arthur’s father in 1902, but records show that in correspondence with the AIF about Arthur she continued to call herself Belinda Arnold until early 1917, for unknown reasons.
After completing basic training, Arthur embarked aboard HMAT A15 ‘Star of England’ at Sydney for Egypt on 8 March 1916. On 20 April 1916 he was transferred to the 56th Infantry Battalion, at Ferry Post, Egypt, and on 19 June 1916 he embarked at Alexandria for France. On 1 November 1916 he was killed in action near Fleurs in France.
In the Red Cross Enquiry Bureau file for Arthur there is general consensus among witness statements describing the circumstances of his death. For example, the report quoting witness R. Moore (4841) states:
‘Witness saw soldier killed in front line of trenches facing Bapaume, by a shell. He was killed instantly; his head being blown off. The body was buried in a shell hole just over the parapet. Nothing to show where the grave is. Witness knew him well as they enlisted together and came over in the same steamer.’
To this Lance Corporal A. Collins (3497) added: ‘He was in my Company and Platoon … He was killed by one of our shells which fell short in the Flers[sic] sector.’
Arthur is commemorated at the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France.
(NAA B2455-3035932)