Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Arthur was born in the South East town of Millicent on the 19th July ‘12 and carried the names of his father and grandfather. His parents were Annie Elizabeth and Arthur Doris Banks who ran a local store and drapery business. Arthur’s siblings included Vincent Paul (who died in Robe aged just two years old), Anastasia Annie and Agatha Doris (Bobby). Arthur’s uncle, 21-year-old Wyn Fred, a teacher, had enlisted to serve in WWI as 52894 in the 9th Australian Light Horse when Arthur was five. Despite several bouts of malaria and being hospitalised, he was fortunate to return in June ’19. He may well have been part of the inspiration for Arthur to later enlist.
When his own son was born, Arthur broke with tradition naming him Robert Arthur, with just a brief nod to tradition.
With the outbreak of WWII, a huge recruiting drive was conducted in country areas to attract fit young men to enlist. By that stage, Arthur had married and was living in the coastal town of Port Victoria, working as a farm labourer. He was one of the early enlistees to sign up on the 5th July ’40, just weeks before his 28th birthday. He named his wife, Helen Joyce as his next of kin. He was given the number SX7906 and placed in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion.
Following pre-embarkation leave Arthur boarded the Stratheden in November, arriving in the Middle East on December 17th. The voyage over saw him spend some time in the ship’s hospital before re-joining his battalion. Conditions were unpleasant, with an attempt to destroy morale with the Germans designing a derogatory term that the troops were living like rats underground in their sandy dugouts. Instead, in typical Aussie style, the men proudly adopted the term, a Rat of Tobruk, as a badge of honour and camaraderie.
For Arthur, much of ’42 was spent as a Group II Clerk where he attained the rank of Corporal, before finally being able to return to Australia via Sydney early the following year. His homecoming was marred by him being granted a divorce from Helen Joyce in September. This inevitably caused a change to his next of kin details to his son. Training in Queensland followed, with Arthur serving in the Records Office and again being promoted to the rank of Sergeant. The humidity of the area contributed to several bouts of skin conditions prior to service at Morotai towards the end of hostilities and his final discharge on the 28th November ’45. Sadly, his 75-year-old father died the previous month and did not see his son return safely home. His 48-year-old sister Anastasia, a nurse, died just two years later, in August ’50 and was buried in the Magill Cemetery with her father.
Arthur and his family moved to Solomontown, Port Pirie but continued to return to Mount Barker and Adelaide to visit friends and relatives. Ten-year-old son, Robert proved to be quite the adventurer. He had just recovered from an arm fracture and the removal of his plaster when, riding his bicycle, he was hit by a car. He sustained a serious compound fracture of his right leg and his bicycle was also extensively damaged. The case went to Court with Arthur, on Robert’s behalf, eventually being awarded damages totalling £317 12/ (£200 general and £117 12/ special). Ironically, four years later, Arthur was caught riding his own bicycle without a light in the early hours of the morning, after a football club social. He was fined £2, with 10/ costs, commenting that he was "just taking a chance."
Aged 51 Arthur died on the 23rd May 1964 and was buried at the Centennial Park Cemetery in the Derrick Gardens, Path 27, Grave 874. His tribute reads ‘Silent thoughts have deepest Memories’. A plaque commemorating his service is also in the Garden of Remembrance, Wall 5 Row F. (Arthur’s uncle who fought in WWI lived to be 72 and died in January ’71. He also, is interred at Centennial Park.)
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.