COUSENS, Joseph Arthur
| Service Number: | QX1766 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 10 June 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | Not yet discovered |
| Born: | Burton Pidsea, Yorkshire, England, 16 October 1903 |
| Home Town: | Ingham, Hinchinbrook, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farm worker/Labourer |
| Died: | Illness, Australia, 23 March 1943, aged 39 years |
| Cemetery: |
Atherton War Cemetery, Queensland A C 7 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Private, QX1766 | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Jun 1940: | Enlisted | |
| 23 Mar 1943: | Discharged | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement Private, QX1766, Arthur served in the 2/12 Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Ian Cousens
Joseph Arthur Cousens, known as Arthur, was the 5th child and 3rd son of Richmond Robert Cousens and his wife Esther nee Squires. He was born at the Nancy Inn in Burton Pidsea, Yorkshire on 16 October 1903. His father was the landlord. Arthur was baptised in the local church, St Peter and St Pauls', on 22 November 1903.
From his emigration record dated 24 September 1925 held at the Queensland State Archives, Arthur was a farm worker/labourer residing in Church Street, Burton Pidsea. He was single, aged 21, 5'8" tall and weighed 9 stone 10 pounds. Mr William James of Turner Hall, Granstead provided a reference dated 20 November 1924 saying he had employed Arthur for 3 years. A second reference dated 21 August 1925 was from Mr Turner of Chatt House in Burton Pidsea who had employed him for the past 12 months. Both described Arthur as a 'satisfactory worker'.
Arthur departed Tilbury on the SS Largs Bay on 15 December 1925. His maternal uncle Thomas Squires, a naturalized Australian, nominated his emigration and paid 11 pounds towards Arthur's fare of 27 pounds 10 shillings. Arthur arrived in Brisbane on 7 January 1926 and made his way to join the Squires family in Macknade near Ingham.
In 1940, Arthur enlisted in Townsville for service with the Australian Army. He was Private QX1766 and served in 2/12 Infantry Battalion. Next of kin was his mother E Cousens who lived in Burton Pidsea.
I have been told that Arthur served in Papua New Guinea and was sent back to Australia due to illness. He died in Ingham on 23 March 1943 and was buried in the Atherton War Cemetery.
Arthur's two elder brothers served in WWI - Robert Clapham Cousens b. 1897 was a driver with the Royal Artillery and Alfred Richmond Cousens b. 1899 was in the Navy
Arthur was related to a number of other members of the Australian armed forces in WW1 and WWII.
Pte. Sydney Leake Cousens #5322 of the 26th Battalion KIA 8-8-1918 and his brother Sgt. Stanley Clifford Cousens #816 of the 15th Battalion KIA 9-8-1916 were cousins of Arthur's father as was thier 1/2 brother Harry Richmond Cousens who served in the Boer war with the Queensland Imperial Bushmen. Five of Harry's children served in WWII enlising in Queensland.
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