82146
MILES, Arthur Vincent
| Other Name: | MILES, Vincent Arthur - WW1 Service Record |
|---|---|
| Service Numbers: | 805, SX5056 |
| Enlisted: | 13 June 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Staff Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 9th Light Horse Regiment |
| Born: | Forreston, SA, 5 November 1900 |
| Home Town: | Gumeracha, Adelaide Hills, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Forreston Primary School , South Australia |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Daw Park, South Australia, 5 January 1969, aged 68 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Enfield Memorial Park, South Australia Catholic, Row O, Site Number 18 |
| Memorials: | Forreston Primary School WW1 Pictorial Honour Roll, Gumeracha District WW2 Roll of Honour, Gumeracha Town Hall WW1 Roll of Honor, Payneham RSL Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 12 Feb 1915: | Embarked Private, 805, 9th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Armadale, Melbourne | |
|---|---|---|
| 12 Feb 1915: | Involvement Private, 805, 9th Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '2' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Armadale embarkation_ship_number: A26 public_note: '' | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Private, 805 |
World War 2 Service
| 13 Jun 1940: | Involvement SX5056 | |
|---|---|---|
| 13 Jun 1940: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Staff Sergeant, SX5056 | |
| 13 Jun 1940: | Enlisted Adelaide, SA | |
| 13 Jul 1945: | Discharged |
Private Arthur Vincent Miles
Private Arthur Vincent Miles
Service Numbers:
WWI: 805 – 9th Light Horse Regiment / 3rd Machine Gun Squadron
WWII: SX5056 – 2/48th Infantry Battalion, 2nd AIF
Born: 5 November 1896, Forreston, South Australia
Died: 5 January 1969, Daw Park, South Australia
Buried: Enfield Memorial Park, Catholic Section, Row O, Site 18
World War I Service
Australian Imperial Force (AIF)
Enlistment Date: 28 November 1914
Age at Enlistment: 18
Place of Enlistment: Adelaide, South Australia
Embarked: 12 February 1915 from Melbourne aboard HMAT A26 Armadale
Next of Kin: Joseph Miles (father), Gumeracha
Unit History
Initial posting to 9th Light Horse Regiment, 2nd Reinforcements
Later transferred to the 3rd Machine Gun Squadron
– The 3rd MGS supported the mounted troops in the Middle East with mobile firepower
– Participated in the Sinai and Palestine Campaigns
Service Summary
Arthur served in the harsh desert environments of the Middle East
He likely participated in actions such as Romani, Beersheba, and the final drive through Palestine in 1918
Returned to Australia: 10 July 1919
Discharged: 1919 after over 4 years of continuous service
WWI Medals and Honours
1914–15 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal
World War II Service
Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF)
Enlistment Date: 2 May 1940
Service Number: SX5056
Age at Enlistment: 43 (recorded as 39 due to adjusted birth year: 1900)
Place of Enlistment: Adelaide, South Australia
Next of Kin: Mary Catherine Miles (wife)
Unit History
Served with the 2/48th Battalion, 9th Division
– The most decorated Australian infantry battalion of WWII
– Noted for its actions at Tobruk, El Alamein, and later New Guinea
Operational Deployments
North Africa (Libya and Egypt):
– Participated in the legendary Siege of Tobruk
– Involved in Battle of El Alamein
New Guinea Campaign:
– Transferred with the 9th Division to the Pacific theatre
– Operated under extreme jungle conditions, facing tropical disease and harsh terrain
Medical and Administrative Service
Due to age and accumulated fatigue from prior service, Arthur was medically downgraded
His service file includes references to illness, fatigue, and hospitalisation
He was transferred between units before eventual discharge on medical grounds
Final Rank and Discharge
Final Rank: Private
Discharged: Date not precisely recorded but service concluded prior to war's end due to medical fitness
Legacy and Commemoration
Commemorated On:
Forreston Primary School WWI Honour Roll
Gumeracha Town Hall WWI Roll of Honor
Burial: Enfield Memorial Park with wife Mary Catherine Miles and daughter Judith Mary Miles
Headstone Inscription: AIF – 2/48 Battalion
Remembered for:
– Service in both World Wars
– Frontline combat on two continents
– Courage, commitment, and quiet resilience
Biography by Trevor Pyatt - 27/07/2025
Submitted 27 July 2025 by Trevor Pyatt
Biography contributed by Modbury High School
Vincent Miles was born 5th November 1896 in Forreston, South Australia. Before World War One, Arthur Vincent worked as a labourer.
On the date of the 28th of November 1914, Arthur Vincent enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force, serving in the 9th Light Horse. He embarked on the HMAT A26 Armadale from Melbourne 12th February 1915
He fought in the Middle East and although he was never wounded, he did spend time in hospital due to illness.
He returned to Australia 10th July 1919 and was discharged 20th June 1919.
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