ARTHUR, Geoffrey Leonard
| Service Number: | 4717642 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 5th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (5RAR) |
| Born: | Booleroo Centre, South Australia, 19 February 1945 |
| Home Town: | Melrose, Mount Remarkable, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Melrose Primary, Booleroo Centre High School, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Farm hand |
| Died: | Ultra-Light Aircraft Accident, Melrose, South Australia, 11 April 2015, aged 70 years |
| Cemetery: |
Melrose Cemetery, South Australia |
| Memorials: | Melrose Memorial Arch and Gates |
Vietnam War Service
| 6 May 1966: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Private, 4717642, 5th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (5RAR) |
|---|
Help us honour Geoffrey Leonard Arthur's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Di Barrie
Geoffrey Leonard Arthur was born at Booleroo Centre 19 February 1945, eldest son of Leonard Frank and Sybil Muriel (nee Bull) Arthur. Leonard and Sybil farmed a property east of Melrose, in the Hundred of Wongyarra. Geoff’s father Leonard Frank served in the RAAF in WW2 and is honoured on the Willowie WW2 Honour Roll.
Geoff was conscripted for National Service under the Department of Labour and National Service scheme and was part of the first intake of national servicemen when he enlisted in the Australian Army on 1 July 1965. Between 1965 and 1972, over 63,000 men were called up for two years fulltime service integrated into regular Army units.
He underwent training at Holsworthy and Ingleburn in New South Wales as a section machine gunner, and assigned to 10 Platoon, D Company, 5 Royal Australian Regiment (5 RAR) before embarking for Vietnam in May 1966. 5 RAR was one of two infantry battalions in the 1 Australian Task Force. Upon arrival in South Vietnam the battalion commenced operations participating in the clearance of the 1 ATF Base at Nui Dat – Operation Hardihood. In total 5 RAR conducted eighteen separate operations during its twelve month tour before it handed responsibility over to 7 RAR.
Geoff returned to Australia in April 1967 and along with his battalion marched through the streets of Sydney. He was officially discharged from the army on 30 June 1967, and returned to the farm at Melrose. He married Kathleen (nee Schwark) in 1975 and they had two daughters. He loved flying, and was an active glider pilot until 1975, before moving to ultralights.
On 11 April 2015, Geoff was killed when the plane he was piloting flew into powerlines. He was 70 years of age. He is buried at Melrose cemetery, Grave 578.
Excerpt taken from Book, "Diggers From the Dust" (2018) Di Barrie & Andrew Barrie.
Click images to start slideshow.