Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Arthur Waring's elder son, Eric, provided the Australian War Memorial with the following summary biography for the period before Arthur's enlistment:

"Arthur Waring was born at Thirsk, Yorkshire in 1887 and accompanied his parents to Australia when he was two months old. The family settled in Sydney and Waring later attended Fort Street High School. When he enlisted for service in the First World War, on 16 February 1915, he was working as a commercial traveller, was a keen Rugby player and had already served for three years as a corporal in the militia, with St George's English Rifle Regiment. In addition he was an enthusiastic pioneer ham radio operator."

Arthur underwent signals training before embarkation on the HMAT Ajana on 31 May 1915. His time with the civilian militia (compulsory from about 1911) was taken into account in his appointment as Lance Corporal on enlistment.

While the 2nd Division AIF was being transported to Gallipoli from Egypt on HMT Southland, the troopship was torpedoed on 2 September 2015 by German submarine UB14 and was subsequently beached near Lemnos. After the troops and crew abandoned ship, most in lifeboats, Arthur and other troops spent some hours swimming in the Mediterranean until picked up by a lifeboat and then by Seaplane Carrier Ben-My-Cree.

A copy of a letter to his mother on 4 September 1915 provides details of his experiences that day. Arthur described very poor conduct on the part of some of the ship's crew, who refused to allow troops in the water to enter their lifeboat, despite having capacity to carry them.  He also describes the circumstances in which Brigadier General Linton died and states that the crew member considered responsible for Linton's falling into the water from a lifeboat was later shot, presumably for negligence.

A copy of a typed extract of the letter is attached in the documents section. The original was, of course, handwritten but the writer has seen an earlier typed copy of the same letter extract, black and crumbling with age, which would have been typed by Arthur's sister, Winifred May, probably after his death in July 1938. The attached copy was typed by his younger son, Arthur Stanley, to replace the blackened copy and he provided the writer, and others in Arthur's family, with the attached document.

Arthur Waring appears to have been well-liked by his comrades and superior officers. When Major General Sinclair-Maclaren recommended him for the Military Cross, he referred to his readiness to place himself at personal risk in performing his duties and also to his "cheerfulness under difficult and trying conditions".

In a tribute in Reveille magazine September 1938 issue, following his death in July, a copy of which is in the documents section, Major General C.H. Brand says the Brigade Section (of which Arthur was then Brigade Signal Officer) was: "ever efficient, contented and ready to uphold the best traditions of the A.I.F signal service".

The tribute in Reveille by his comrades in the 4th Division Signal Company gives further details of Arthur's war service, his cheerful personality and his life after returning to Sydney saying:

"He endeared himself to all; his smiling face and cheery greeting will be sadly missed".

They also note that after his return to Sydney:

"[He] again entered the business world, which took him to nearly every corner of NSW and Queensland. In business he showed those same qualities that endeared him to all on active service."

"He took a great interest in sport; golf in particular. He was an active member of the Strathfield Club. He was associated with the 4th Div. Sig. Coy. Reunion Association since its inception, taking over the position of President on the death of Col. J.E. Fraser."

Now he has 'passed on'. To his sorrowing widow and two boys we, of the Sig. Coy., extend our deepest sympathy - His Comrades of 4th Division Signal Coy., A.I.F."