STOW, Arthur Henry
| Service Number: | 2162 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 10 September 1915, Enlisted in Newcastle, NSW |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 30th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Dungog, New South Wales, Australia, 1892 |
| Home Town: | Dungog, Dungog, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | New South Wales, Australia, 9 March 1968, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Dungog General Cemetery, New South Wales Anglican section |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 10 Sep 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2162, 30th Infantry Battalion, Enlisted in Newcastle, NSW | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Feb 1916: | Involvement Private, 2162, 30th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ballarat embarkation_ship_number: A70 public_note: '' | |
| 16 Feb 1916: | Embarked Private, 2162, 30th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ballarat, Sydney | |
| 22 May 1919: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2162, 30th Infantry Battalion, Embarked in England aboard HMAT "Durham" for return to Australia. | |
| 15 Sep 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 2162, 30th Infantry Battalion, Discharged in 2nd Military District, Sydney |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Karan CAMPBELL-DAVIS
Arthur Henry STOW was born in 1892 in Dungog, NSW, the second of six children born to parents Frederick Brewer and Susan (nee JEWHURST) STOW.
A single 23 year old labourer at the time, Arthur enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in Newcastle on 10th September 1915, and was allocated to the 3rd reinforcements of the 30th Infantry Battalion as a Private, regimental number 2162. After completing his recruit training at Liverpool, Arthur embarked with his Unit in Sydney on 16th February 1916 aboard HMAT "Ballarat", for active service in the trenches of the Western Front, in France and Belgium.
In July 1916, after initially being tasked with a support role, the 30th Battalion took part in their first battle, at Fromelles, due to heavy casualties inflicted by German machine gunners. Following that, the 30th were mainly engaged in defensive duties to hold sections of the line for the rest of the year. On 3rd December 1916, Arthur was admitted to the 3rd London General Hospital in Wandsworth, England, with trench foot, a painful condition caused by prolonged exposure to the cold and wet, muddy conditions. Upon his discharge on 27th January 1917, he was sent to the No. 4 Convalescent Depot in Wareham, but then admitted to the Wareham Military Hospital for further treatment for trench foot, on 10th March. He was discharged on 4th April 1917, and marched in to the Infantry Draft Depot, No. 6 Camp at Perham Down, England.
Three weeks later, on 25th April 1917, Arthur was taken on strength of the 62nd Infantry Battalion at Windmill Hill Camp, Salisbury Plain, England, where he underwent training to regain his strength. On 19th September, he was transferred back to 30th Battalion, proceededing to France on 14th October to rejoin them, just after their involvement at Polygon Wood.
On 9th January 1918, Arthur was evacuated and admitted to the 3rd Canadian General Hospital in Boulogne, France, due to his right foot becoming septic, after continued exposure to the cold and wet conditions in the trenches. His subsequent admission to the 7th, and 10th Convalescent Depots, meant that he didn't rejoin his Battalion until 17th May. He was again admitted to hospital (no details) on 13th August, returning to his Unit on 11th September. Even after the end of hostilities, a further recurrence of the trench foot condition resulted in his hospitalisation in February 1919.
On 22nd May 1919, Arthur embarked in England aboard HMAT "Durham" for return to Australia. He was discharged in the 2nd Military District, Sydney, on 15th September 1919. Arthur was later awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his service, along with the Silver War Badge and Discharged Returned Soldier Badge.
Arthur married Mabel MUDDLE in 1924. He died on 9th March 1968, aged 75, and is buried in the Dungog General Cemetery.
Compiled by Karan CAMPBELL-DAVIS from historical records kept by the National Archives of Australia, Australian War Memorial, Births, Deaths & Marriages NSW, and Find A Grave website.
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