Arthur Charles CONQUEST

Arthur Charles CONQUEST Update Details

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CONQUEST, Arthur Charles

Service Number:	1159
Enlisted:	11 February 1916
Last Rank:	Private
Last Unit:	37th Infantry Battalion
Born:	Windsor, Victoria, 1896
Home Town:	Goorambat, Benalla, Victoria
Schooling:	Earlston State School
Occupation:	Farm Labourer
Died:	Died of wounds, France, 27 February 1917
Cemetery:	Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix, Bethune, Nord Pas de Calais Grave No. 40, Row AA, Plot 5
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Euroa Telegraph Park, Mooroopna Shepparton News Calendar & Pictorial Honour Roll of Fallen Heroes, Violet Town Earlston State School No. 2850 Honour Board, Violet Town Honour Roll WW1

World War 1 Service

11 Feb 1916:	Enlisted AIF WW1, 1159
3 Jun 1916:	Involvement Private, 1159, 37th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Persic embarkation_ship_number: A34 public_note: ''
3 Jun 1916:	Embarked Private, 1159, 37th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Persic, Melbourne

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Biography contributed by Elsa Reuter

CONQUEST Arthur Charles 1159 PTE
37th Battalion
1896-1917

Arthur Conquest was 20 years old, five years younger than his cousin Ken Cole when they enlisted together on 11 February 1916. Arthur had grown up on a farm across the Broken River from Caniambo at Major Plains. They were allotted consecutive service numbers and mustered into the 37th Battalion.

Their initial training was at Seymour. Four months later in June they embarked on HMAT Persic bound for England. The route they travelled was via Capetown, then on to Plymouth from where they immediately started training at Parkhill. This training covered most aspects of warfare which they were to encounter while at the Front.

At the end of November the same year they embarked for France where the two cousins were separated. Ken Cole fell ill and was admitted to hospital while Arthur was sent straight to the Western Front where his battalion joined forces with the 38th Battalion in raiding the German trenches in the Armentieres area.

In February 1917 he was badly wounded in action, captured by the Germans, was hospitalised and died of the wounds he had received. Arthur’s parents suffered a lot of anguish not knowing their son’s fate. They finally had official news of his burial being at the Military Cemetery, Lambersart, Grave 416. Later his body was exhumed and finally came to rest at Rue Petillon, Military Cemetery, Grave 40, Row AA, Plot 5.

Arthur was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. His father received the Memorial Scroll and Plaque in 1922.

Arthur is remembered on the Caniambo Honour Board, Earlston State School Honour Board and the main honour board in the Violet Town Memorial Hall.

In 1918 a memorial avenue was planted to remember the brave soldiers and nurses who served in WW1. Copper plaques were used to identify these trees and although many of the trees have not survived a number copper plaques have been found and are affixed to the exterior wall of the Memorial Hall, Violet Town.

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