Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Arthur, born in the Riverland town of Renmark on the 13th February 1912 was the son of William Bland of Winkie. His grandparents had been overland cattle and horse drovers before eventually working on Lake Victoria Station. Arthur’s father became well known on the river and the surrounding bush areas, having accumulated knowledge about station life and stock. . Arthur and his siblings, including sisters Olive and Mary Ellen grew up at Overland Corner, attending the local school. Arthur and his good friend, Jack (John Richard) Fox, would often head off together to have time in Renmark and Big Yarra Farm.
Arthur was married to Violet Mavis Jane when, as a 27-year-old, he enlisted at the nearby town of Glossop on the 22nd June 1940 when he was allocated the number SX7751 and placed in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. Several other Riverland young men also enlisted at a similar time. His childhood friend, John Richard Fox (Jack) SX12920 enlisted 6th May ’41
During pre-embarkation leave, Arthur returned home where the Berri Soldier’s committee organised to honour Private Arthur and fellow enlistee, SX8418 Private Carl Bahnisch, also of the 2/48th Battalion. (38-year-old Carl was killed in Action in Libya, in April ’41.) Both were presented with a leather money belt, a £1 note and a pair of socks from the Comforts Fund. Their decision to enlist was particularly appreciated by the district and both were wished well. Dancing and a traditional country supper completed the evening.
Arthur then boarded the Stratheden on the 17th November and arrived in the Middle East on the 7th December. He was to become one of the highly respected and admired Rats of Tobruk. The term was designed by the Germans to destroy the morale of the soldiers who were living in primitive conditions in dugouts which they shared with rats and fleas. Instead, the term was claimed as a badge of honour.
Less than ten months after arriving Arthur had confronted horrific conditions, dust, heat, flies and constant bombardment. A far cry from the tranquillity of his Riverland home.
Mark Johnston in his meticulously documented and annotated ‘Derrick VC In His Own Words’ published Derrick’s diary entry of 6th October ’41 Tobruk “Same place, bombers got a little closer, within 400 yards, have not heard report yet. – Just heard report on bombing one killed 3 injured including Art Bland from Berri. About 20 small(?) bombs dropped in a line through B.H.Q. area.” In an additional note ‘a lone bomber dropped 20 anti-personnel bombs, which killed one man and wounded three.’
More detail of the circumstances were added in John Glenn’s book, Tobruk to Tarakan. He described how the men anticipated a return to Australia and the variety of ‘furphies’ that circulated about their departure from Tobruk. He gave a glimpse of the setting where ‘at night they lay in the loneliness of their holes and listened to the sound of enemy bombers that circled overhead and searched for a target on which to drop their loads.’
In the early hours of 6th October one lone plane persistently circled our area. Then suddenly, battalion headquarters was enveloped in noise, blinding flashes, smoke, dust. Twenty anti-personnel bombs had straddled the 2/48th. Private George Fenwick was killed – for him there would be no escape from Tobruk – and Sergeants Noel Ditty and George Driver were wounded, as also was Private Arthur Bland.’
Arthur had been severely wounded with gunshot wounds to his left shoulder, compound fracture to his left humerus and left hip and was immediately evacuated to the Alexandra hospital.
Back home, his wounding was shared through the News and Mail, with the Murray Pioneer on the 6th November writing in detail; ‘Word has been received by Mrs Violet Brand, of Winkie that her husband, Private Arthur George Bland, has been wounded In action at Tobruk where he was for many months. He was wounded on October 6. Pte, Bland is the son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Bland of Berri. The soldier enlisted In July 1940 and went overseas in November last year. He was a fruit grower at Winkie and was well known in the district. The Blands are among the oldest River families and the grandfather was one of the first young men employed on stations many years ago.’
Despite receiving treatment, inevitably Arthur was officially classified as being ‘temporarily unfit for service for a period greater than six months’. Realistically, by January ’42 he embarked for Australia via Melbourne. Four months of treatment at Heidelberg followed before he returned to South Australia on leave, prior to being discharged as medically unfit. Art was discharged on the 6th March 1943.
That month, a civic welcome was organised for the 2nd AIF returned soldiers and airmen of the Berri district in the Rivoli Theatre. At 9:00pm the lights were dimmed and The Ode of Remembrance recited, before "Abide with Me", was sung in memory of the fallen. Most of the soldiers present had taken part in the battles for Tobruk and El Alamein, others had fought in Syria and New Guinea, and some had been on active service in North Australia. Pleasure was expressed in being able to welcome men from the now famous battalions, including the 2/48th.

The local paper continued to report on Arthur’s medical progress ‘Pte. Arthur Bland is an inmate of a Soldiers' Hospital, near Adelaide. Reports indicates that he is as well as can be expected after his accident.’ The following year, Glossop welcomed 61 of their fighting force men at the end of October ’45 in the local hall. The enlistees were praised for upholding the four principles. of patriotism, justice, sacrifice, peace and goodwill.
Art found work as a meter reader but in an added cruel blow, his wife chose to leave, with Art finally granted a divorce in May ’46 on the grounds of desertion.
He soon became the Inspector of Noxious Weeds, reporting to Council on the progress the new soldier settlers were making in that battle. Most had complied but in ’47 two had made no apparent attempt, resulting in formal letters being written to them.
Art was actively involved in many clubs and activities, including the Berri District RSL Indoor Bowls Association as Secretary and as part of the RSL bowls, billiards and snooker competition in the Riverland. He was also an active supporter of fundraising for the Berri Hospital, frequently being ‘on the door’ for entry to dances and fundraisers and was Secretary of the Berri Racing Club.
Aged 74, Art died on the 3rd June ’87 in the Daw’s Road Repatriation Hospital. His service is remembered in the SA Garden of Remembrance at Centennial Park Cemetery.
Probably because he had moved from his given pre-war address, Art never received (or wore) his medals. It was not until after his death, in December ’88 that Art’s sister, Mary Ellen formally applied for his medals, which are now proudly owned and worn by Art’s nephews.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.

Arthur Bland was my Great Uncle. He left behind a wife for war. He returned a cripple and a shell of a man at the time. She reportedly left him soon after. It left him nearly as broken as his time as a Rat of Tobruk. He never married, but was cared for for the remaining years of his life by Ruth who we only knew as Aunty Ruth. She took good care of Uncle Art. Much of his life in Adelaide after the war was spent in and out of the Repat hospital in Daw Park. The anecdote from His Sister Mary (our Nan) is that he had in excess of 40 surgeries over many years and each operation saw the removal of at least one piece of shrapnel. When I was a young child we would visit he wouldn't say much, but each time we had to bring flowers.
His catch cry was "bring me flowers now. I won't be able to see 'em if they're on my grave."