STEW, Arthur William
| Service Number: | DX116 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 11 November 1939, Darwin, Northern Territory |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd/33rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Bristol, England, United Kingdom, 15 August 1905 |
| Home Town: | Darwin, Darwin, Northern Territory |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Barman |
| Died: | Injuries, New Guinea, 7 September 1943, aged 38 years |
| Cemetery: |
Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery, Papua New Guinea CWGC Grave No: Section C. Plot C1. Row D. Grave 2. Inscription: "HIS DUTY NOBLY DONE". |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Darwin War Memorial, East Point Memorial Wall |
World War 2 Service
| 11 Nov 1939: | Involvement Private, DX116, 2nd/33rd Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Nov 1939: | Enlisted Darwin, Northern Territory | |
| 11 Nov 1939: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, DX116 | |
| 7 Sep 1943: | Involvement Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, DX116, 2nd/33rd Infantry Battalion, Died from severe burns when aircraft crashed into convoy. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Bonald
On Tuesday, September 7th, 1943, at Jackson Field in Port Moresby, New Guinea, a B-24D Liberator bomber (The Pride of the Cornhuskers) from the 403rd Bomber Squadron, 43rd Bombing Group USAAF, crashed during take-off, likely due to pilot disorientation in the dark. The aircraft hit trees and slammed into a convoy of trucks carrying over 130 soldiers from D Company, 2/33 Infantry Battalion of the Australian Army, who were waiting to board C-47 transport planes to move to the front lines. The bomber’s 500-pound bombs and 2,800 gallons of fuel exploded, killing 15 Australian soldiers instantly and severely injuring 47 more, who later died. Another 90 soldiers were wounded but survived, all 11 crew members aboard the bomber (The Pride of the Cornhuskers) were killed. Private Arthur William Stew - DX116, was one of the 47 Australian Military personnel severely burned, succumbing to his injuries on the same day at the 2nd / 9th Australian General Hospital, Port Moresby.
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