Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Arthur was born on the 7th of January, 1914. He was to be the youngest of four children to William and Elizabeth Emma (née Bagust) Cottam of Tumbarumba, New South Wales. Prior to enlisting he worked as a labourer in the Tumbarumba region. Like many young men in the region, Arthur was a member of the local 21st Light Horse Regiment, a militia unit based in Wagga, having enlisted in early April of 1938.

Arthur’s mother, Elizabeth, was a stalwart of the Tumbarumba community. As well as being a member of the Bush Nursing Association her baking was clearly a treat to eat, winning no less than seventeen prizes at the 1939 Tumabrumba Show.

On the 17th of June, 1940, Arthur entered the recruitment station at Wagga and enlisted in the 2nd AIF. He was allocated the Army Number NX35853 and initially placed in the 2/19th Battalion. His initial infantry training was completed at Wagga and after about four weeks he was transferred to Wallgrove Camp, west of Sydney. before the battalion moved to Ingleburn in late August and Bathurst in early December to complete their training.

Prior to embarkation, Arthur was given home leave but we’re left to wondering whether he made the trip home to enjoy some of Elizabeth’s baked delights. On the 2nd of February, 1941, the battalion embarked on HT Queen Mary at Sydney. Sixteen days later they disembarked at Singapore.

Immediately upon its arrival the battalion moved to Seremban in southern Malaysia. The battalion remained in this area, moving between Seremban and Port Dickson, training in junge warfare. During this time, Arthur was admitted to the GRS at Port Dickson, the reason being “puo” (pyrexia of unknown origins). He spent nine days in hospital and a further two weeks at the No. 2 Convalescent Depot at Mallacca. He arrived back to his battalion while they were still in the Seremban. Arthur was granted five days of Singapore leave between the 15th and 20th of July.

In early September the battalion were based around the airfield at Kluang. The following month they began the move to Jemaluang where they spent the next two months creating defensive positions at this vital road junction.

While the battalion stood to arms on the night of the 6th of December it would be a month before they experienced their first action against the Japanese. On the 7th of January, part of D Company was sent to delay the Japanese approach to Endau, further north along the east coast. Ten days later they moved across to the town of Barki on the west coast, to assist the 2/29th Battalion. The 2/9th held the cross roads for sufficient time to allow for remnants of the 2/29th and the 45th Indian Brigade to withdrawal. The battalion continued to make a fighting withdrawal to Parit Sulong. With mounting casualties and ammunition running out, it was decided to leave the wounded and withdrawal Johore Bahru. Of approximately 150 Australian and Indan wounded and Red Cross personnel left behind, all were massacred by the soldiers of the Japanese Imperial Guards Division.

On the 8th of February, the Japanese crossed the Johore Straits  and advanced into the island of Singapore. One week later all Commonwelath forces on the island surrended to the Japanese.

Arthur’s journey from when he was taken prisoner is not clearly known. Having surrendered on Singapore and being one of those aboard the Ryuko Maru in July of 1944, he would have followed a similar path, and fate, to Private Bill Walker (see Bill's entry). Arthur, like Bill, was one of those POWs that drowned in the sinking of the Ryuko Maru. As a result, he has no known grave.

Arthur is remembered on the Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, the Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, and the Labuan Memorial on the island of Labuan. For his service, he was awarded the 1939-1945 Star, the Pacific Star, the Defence Medal, the War Medal 1939-1945 and the Australian Service Medal 1939-1945.