SANDFORD, Arthur Bruce
| Service Numbers: | Officer, NX122036 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 September 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Major |
| Last Unit: | 8th Field Artillery Brigade |
| Born: | Paddington, Sydney, NSW, 17 February 1893 |
| Home Town: | Queenscliff, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Brighton Grammar School |
| Occupation: | Bank Clerk |
| Died: | Mosman, Sydney, NSW, 20 July 1961, aged 68 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Northern Suburbs Memorial Gardens and Crematorium, NSW East Terrace 3 Wall 5 |
| Memorials: | Bank of New South Wales Roll of Honour Book |
World War 1 Service
| 18 Aug 1914: |
Involvement
AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, Officer, 1st Field Artillery Brigade, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '3' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Argyllshire embarkation_ship_number: A8 public_note: '' |
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|---|---|---|
| 18 Sep 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, Officer, 1st Field Artillery Brigade | |
| 18 Oct 1914: | Embarked AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, Officer, 1st Field Artillery Brigade, HMAT Argyllshire, Sydney | |
| 21 Jan 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Major, Officer, 8th Field Artillery Brigade |
World War 2 Service
| 31 Aug 1942: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Major, NX122036, Albury, NSW |
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Help us honour Arthur Bruce Sandford's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
ARTHUR BRUCE SANDFORD was born at Sydney, New South Wales on 17th February, 1893, the son of Brigadier-General Augustus Henry Sandford, R.A.G.A., and Mrs. Florence Sandford. He received his education at the Brighton Grammar School, Melbourne, joining the service of the Bank at Melbourne on 23rd May, 1910. In May, 1912, he was transferred to Head Office (Inspector’s Department), to the Southern Branch in July of the same year, to Head Office (Inspector’s Department) in May, 1913, and to the Head Office staff in the following December.
Arthur Bruce Sandford enlisted as a second-lieutenant in the A.I.F. on 20th August, 1914, and was appointed to the 1st Brigade of the 1st Divisional Artillery, with which he embarked. In February, 1915, he attained the rank of first-lieutenant, and was present at the Landing on Gallipoli on 25th April, 1915. While on active service there he was wounded in the hand, but remained on duty.
At the end of May of the same year he was transferred to Egypt, returning to Gallipoli in the September following, where he remained until the evacuation in December, at which he was present. In March, 1916, he was promoted to the rank of captain, appointed to the command of the 1st Brigade Ammunition Column, and went to France, where he was appointed Adjutant of the 1st A.F.A. Brigade on 10th July, 1916. On 20th October, 1916, he was placed in command of the 1st Battery of the 1st A.F.A. Brigade; on 20th January, 1917, he received his majority and was transferred to the 3rd Divisional Artillery in command of the 108th Howitzer Battery.
On 1st April, 1918, he was appointed to command the 3rd Divisional Ammunition Column. He left France for Australia via Canada, on 20th October, 1918, on six months’ furlough, and the Armistice was signed during the voyage out. During his service in France Major Sandford took part in the Battles of the Somme, Messines, Ypres, Polygon Wood and Passchendaele, the battles of the German offensive which began in March, 1918, and in the victorious advance of the Allies which commenced in August, 1918.
On 7th November, 1917, he was mentioned in despatches, and on 7th April, 1918, he was again mentioned in despatches and awarded the D.S.O. for gallant and distinguished services in the field. General Birdwood wrote to him: —
“I am very pleased to be able to congratulate you, as I do most heartily, on the award of the D.S.O., which you have fully deserved for your good and gallant service during many a long day now.”
General Monash wrote: —
“I was delighted to see in the Honours Gazette just published that you have been admitted to the Distinguished Service Order, thus recognizing the valuable services which you have rendered to Australia and to the A.I.F. Will you please accept my warmest congratulations.”
General H. N. Grimwade in writing said:—
‘‘I wish you to accept my sincere congratulations on your award of the D.S.O. I also take this opportunity of thanking you for the loyal work you have done, and express my best wishes for the future.”
Source - Bank of NSW Roll of Honour
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