Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Note- Murray, in his compilation of the AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, has recorded recorded the surname of John McArthur incorrectly as MacArthur.

John McArthur was a career soldier having joined the Queensland Mounted Infantry, Queensland Defence Force, as a Private on 28 Feb 1895, rising to Sergeant in 1898 prior to the outbreak of the Boer War. 

He served in both the South African (Boer) War and WW1. First service was as a Sergeant S.N. 74, 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry, Boer War. Second service was as a Captain rising to Lieutenant-Colonel, 29th/31st/32nd Infantry Battalions AIF, WW1.

He was a decorated soldier during WW1, twice Mentioned in Despatches and awarded the D.S.O. and D.S.O. with Bar. He continued his military career after WW1 with the Australian Instructional Corps and in 1933 was awarded the O.B.E. for his services.

When John McArthur first enlisted for the Boer War in 1899 in the 1st QMI and his details were published with the rank and file in The Brisbane Courier, 18 Nov 1899, it was noted he was single and from Iredale via Helidon. In the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 1st QMI, Bk 1 p. 80, it is noted he directed part of his pay to his mother Mrs. J. McArthur, Iredale, Helidon. He was invalided from service returning aboard Wilcannia arriving at Brisbane on 19 Sep 1900 where he was discharged on 26 Sep 1900.

After discharge he continued his military career joining the Instructionl Staff in Queensland as a Squadron Sergeant Major on 6 Feb 1901. On 1 Jan 1911 he transferred to the Instructional Staff in Victoria where he was serving when he enlisted with the A.I.F. for WW1.

He enlisted for WW1 on 12 Aug 1915 and applied for a commission which was approved and he was appointed as a Captain with the 29th Infantry Battalion. On his Appliction for a Commission he noted that; he was born on 6 Aor 1875; he was a soldier serving with the Instructional Staff, Commonwealth Military Forces; he was married and his N.O.K. was his wife Isabella Agnes McArthur; and they were living at Howe Cres., South Melbourne. He did not note previous active service, however, his complete service record held by National Archives contains at page 54 a statement of services that includes his South African War service.

John McArthur was born on 6 April 1875 at Bannockburn, Stirling, Scotland, a son to John McArthur and Elizabeth McArthur (nee Baird). His parents emigrated with their young family to Queensland settling in the Helidon area. He married Isabella Agnes Bruce on 23 Sep 1903 at Toowoomba and they had 5 children with 3 born in Queensland prior to their relocation to Victoria in 1911.

As noted earlier he was a decorated officer during his WW1 service awarded the D.S.O. and D.S.O. with Bar. The awards were originally notified in the London Gazette and republished in the Commonwealth Of Australia Gazette, No. 31, 4 Mar 1919, p. 372, which includes the two citations which are transcribed below.

Distinguished Service Order, 3rd Military District, Lieutenant-Colonel John McArthur, 29th Battalion. For conspicuous gallantry and able leadership. Having personally supervised all preliminary arrangements, he carried out a night attack on the enemy's well organised trench lines, which was entirely successful. He remained at work for 48 hours, showing a splendid example of courage and devotion to duty which inspired all ranks of the battalion.

Bar to Distinguished Service Order, 3rd Military District, Lieutenant-Colonel John McArthur, D.S.O. 29th Battalion. For conspicuous gallantry while commanding his battalion during an attack. He preceded the battalion to the jumping-off line, and under very heavy fire issued final instructions to the companies. When the advance was temporarily checked he went forward and personally conducted operations, being severely wounded in doing so. It was largely due to his splendid leadership and fine initiative that the battalion reached all its objectives.

The above attack took place in France when he was wounded sustaining a G.S.W. to his neck and shoulder requiring his invaliding to England for treatment. After recuperating he returned to the 29th Battalion and subsequently transferred to the 31st and then the 32nd Battalions. He returned to Australia ariving in Nov 1919 and his appointment was terminated and he was discharged at his own request on 12 Jan 1920.

He rejoined the Australian Instructionl Corps in May 1920 and would continue to serve until he turned 60 and was retired on 6 Apr 1935. In Jun 1933 he was honuored in the King's Birthday Honours awarded an O.B.E. for his services to the military. After retiring he went to work with the Age newspaper in Melbourne. With the outbreak of WW2 he rejoined in 1940 as a general staff officer at Army HQ serving until 1942.

(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray, p. 451; National Archives Australia- Boer War Dossier; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 1st QMI, Bk 1 p. 80; National Archives Australia- WW1 service record and WW2 service record; Matthew Higgins, 'McArthur, John (1875–1947)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/mcarthur-john-7285/text12633, published first in hardcopy 1986, accessed online 22 November 2025.)