Arthur Clifford STILES

STILES, Arthur Clifford

Service Number: 2518
Enlisted: 12 February 1917
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: Camel Corps
Born: Ryde, New South Wales, Australia, 1896
Home Town: Sydney, City of Sydney, New South Wales
Schooling: Sydney Technical High School, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation: Clerk
Died: Turramurra, New South Wales, Australia, 17 August 1961, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: Not yet discovered
Memorials: Sydney Municipal Council of Sydney Employees Honour Roll, Sydney Technical High School WW1 Roll Of Honour
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World War 1 Service

12 Feb 1917: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2518, Camel Corps
17 Feb 1917: Involvement Private, 2518, Camel Corps, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '3' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: RMS Morea embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: ''
17 Feb 1917: Embarked Private, 2518, Camel Corps, RMS Morea, Sydney

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Biography contributed by Sydney Technical High School

 Arthur Clifford Stiles born in Ryde NSW in 1896 to Frederick Stiles and Caroline Emily Stiles. He was a student at Sydney Technical High School in 1911, and was a Clerk before enlisting in the Australian Imperial Force on the 12th of February 1917 at the age 20. 

He embarked from Sydney aboard an Australian troopship the RMS Morea leaving his family behind in Drummoyne.(4) Stiles was posted into the Imperial Camel Corps (4). The Imperial camel corps was a specialist unit formed to fight in desert conditions in areas of The Middle East. 

Arthur served in the Imperial Camel Corps until the 28th of December 1917 which means he only served for 10 months until returned to Australia. Stiles found himself becoming sick many times, infected with tonsillitis and diagnosed with neurasthenia, a disorder that affected his mental state. He later had a medical examination that diagnosed him with a heart problem which made him medically unfit to serve.(3) 

Stile’s service was cut short, due to heart condition, he was sent back to Australia upon the Hospital Ship Tofua on the 28th of December 1917. He was officially discharged on the 4th of June 1918.

He married Alma Maude Wright in 1934 and continued his work as cleric.(4) By 1935 he was listed as a sub - accountant and in 1947 his experience and leadership caused his career to meet a high point when he was promoted to Deputy Registrar under the Gas and Electricity Act of 1935-1946 where he performed administrative and judicial functions.(4) His role highlights the responsibilities stiles faced after his military experience.

Stiles lived in Turramura and remained in his civic life until he died on the 28th of August 1961 aged at 65 years old. Stiles is now commemorated by many as his name sits on the New South Wales war memorial register and Sydney Technical high school’s honour board.

 

 

Endnotes

(1)https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/bumpy-history-imperial-camel-corps-wwi

(2)https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/first-world-war-service-medals

(3) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FViU6ae_c_KU7azsG5ZYn0XN7wpUq_5_/view

(4)https://docs.google.com/document/d/19kuTEIYVcDBrNoj8HKIc2tWqCx_lf2M3/edit?tab=t.0

Bibliography

https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/bumpy-history-imperial-camel-corps-wwi
STILES AC    -   Arthur Clifford   -  early medical discharge ACCT elec,council
https://docs.google.com/document/d/19kuTEIYVcDBrNoj8HKIc2tWqCx_lf2M3/edit?tab=t.0
https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=8093982&isAv=N
https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/first-world-war-service-medals
https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/76252

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