ASTILL, Arnold Sydney
| Service Number: | 4659 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 10 November 1915, Holsworthy, NSW |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 19th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Yullundry, New South Wales, Australia, January 1893 |
| Home Town: | Cumnock, Cabonne, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farm Hand |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 14 November 1916 |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France), Wellington Cenotaph, Wellington Hall of Memory Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 10 Nov 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 4659, 19th Infantry Battalion, Holsworthy, NSW | |
|---|---|---|
| 13 Apr 1916: | Involvement Private, 4659, 19th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: '' | |
| 13 Apr 1916: | Embarked Private, 4659, 19th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ceramic, Sydney |
Help us honour Arnold Sydney Astill's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Fourth child of eleven of William Thomas and Mary ASTILL.
In late October the 19th Btn moved to Ribemont, France, and on 9 Nov 1916, relieved the 17th Btn in the trenches at Flers. On the 14 Nov 1916, the 19th Btn took part in an attack on the ‘Maze’ defence system at Flers, and captured and defended a salient deep within the German lines. For two days and nights the19th Btn held this position against counter attacks and intense shelling. Of the 451 all ranks who went intothe attack, 381 became casualties. Pte Arnold Astill was killed early on the morning of the 14 Nov 1916 bya shell burst.
The Wellington Times 8 Mar 1917, p3 reported:
“Mr WT Astill, of Anover’s Creek, Yeoval road, received word on Monday last that his son, Private Arnold S Astill, aged 24 yrs, had been killed in France. The deceased, who enlisted some time ago, had left Australia about 12 months. After undergoing a course of training in England, he was sent to France inSeptember last year, and was reported as missing in November last. Private Astill was born at Yullundry,and was well known though the district. Deep sympathy is expressed to his sorrowing relatives, of whomthere are many in the district.”
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