UNDERWOOD, Arthur Bell Percival
| Service Numbers: | 664, 2233 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 12 August 1914, Sydney, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 23rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Hamilton, Victoria, 1 January 1887 |
| Home Town: | Hamilton, Southern Grampians, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Grocer |
| Died: | Natural causes, Box Hill, Victoria, 13 May 1944, aged 57 years |
| Cemetery: |
Box Hill General Cemetery, Victoria |
| Memorials: | Hamilton Borough of Hamilton Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 12 Aug 1914: | Enlisted Australian Naval & Military Expeditionary Forces (New Guinea 1914), Private, 664, Sydney, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Aug 1914: | Involvement Australian Naval & Military Expeditionary Forces (New Guinea 1914), Private, 664, 1st Infantry Battalion, Naval and Military Forces - Special Tropical Corps, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '21' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Berrima embarkation_ship_number: A35 public_note: '' | |
| 19 Aug 1914: | Embarked Australian Naval & Military Expeditionary Forces (New Guinea 1914), Private, 664, 1st Infantry Battalion, Naval and Military Forces - Special Tropical Corps, HMAT Berrima, Sydney | |
| 4 Mar 1915: | Discharged Australian Naval & Military Expeditionary Forces (New Guinea 1914), Private, 664, 1st Infantry Battalion, Naval and Military Forces - Special Tropical Corps | |
| 10 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2233, Melbourne, Victoria | |
| 27 Sep 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2233, 23rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Hororata, Melbourne | |
| 27 Sep 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2233, 23rd Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '14' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Hororata embarkation_ship_number: A20 public_note: '' | |
| 30 Jul 1916: | Honoured Military Medal, Battle for Pozières , for conspicuous bravery as a stretcher bearer in rescuing wounded from the German barbed wire in daylight | |
| 24 Sep 1917: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 2233, 23rd Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
"AWARDED MILITARY MEDAL. Ex-Pte. A. B. P. UNDERWOOD
Ex-Private Underwood was amongst those soldiers who paraded in Melbourne on the 7th inst., and received the Military Medal from the hands of the Governor-General. Private Underwood gained his distinction at Pozieres. France, on 30th August, 1916, when he bravely entered "No Man's Land" unarmed in view of the enemy in daylight under machine gun, and shell fire to succour wounded comrades. He afterwards returned and organised and led a party to the rescue of upwards of a dozen wounded and maimed men of the 25th and 26th Battalions and brought them all safely into our lines. Prior to the war ex-Private Underwood was employed upon Sir William Lever's Pacific plantations' steam yacht, trading to the South Seas. He joined the colors' upon the outbreak of war, and was sent to New Guinea with the naval and military expedition. After serving six months he was discharged and returned to his home in Hamilton. Three months later he again re-enlisted, and left with the rank of sergeant with the fourth reinforcements to the 23rd Battalion. Soon after joining the battalion he reverted to the ranks and joined the brass band, in which capacity he was serving when he gained his award. Ex-Private Underwood was educated in Bendigo, and was well known in musical circles, being a bandsman, member of the Liedertafel, and a chorister of St. Paul's. He aIso attended the late Dean MacCullagh's senior class. He was a rifle shot of note. His brother, Staff Sergeant R. R. Underwood, still resides in Bendigo." - from the Bendigonian 29 Nov 1917 (nla.gov.au)
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