FINLAY, Arthur Gorton
| Service Number: | S/3803 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 2 December 1939, Sydney, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Petty Officer |
| Last Unit: | HMAS Rushcutter (Shore) |
| Born: | Newcastle Upon Tyne, England, 18 April 1900 |
| Home Town: | Bondi, Waverley, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Natural causes, Melbourne, Victoria, 1990 |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 2 Dec 1939: | Enlisted Royal Australian Navy, Able Seaman, S/3803, HMAS Penguin (IV) 1939-1940/HMAS Brisbane 1940-1942/HMAS Moreton (I) 1942-1994 (Depot), Sydney, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Jan 1946: | Discharged Royal Australian Navy, Petty Officer, S/3803, HMAS Rushcutter (Shore) |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Currey
Arthur Gorton Finlay was born in Newcastle Upon Tyne, England on 18 April 1900 to parents Charles Edward Finlay & Caroline Gladstone Finlay (nee Smith).
His father died when he was very young and when living in South Shields, England. His mother met and married Robert Hindmarch Currey.
Arthur had two full sisters Margaret Gladstone Finlay & Beatrice Finlay. His Stepfather Robert had several kids from his first marriage and in 1907 Robert & Caroline had a son William Trotter Currey (my Grandfather). He was the only child born to this blended family.
In 1914 his step-brother, also Robert Currey enlisted for service in WWI and joined the 26th Tyneside Irish Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. Arthur also tried to sign up but was sent away because he was only 14 years old.
Then he somehow found out if you join the Merchant Navy he would be accepted so that is what he did. With a sense of adventure he ended up travelling the world and never returned to England.
By 1918 he surfaced in Fremantle, Western Australia and decided to enlist in the A.I.F. At first he was accepted but later he found to be medically unfit with a bad heart. He then returned to the sea and served on the R.M.S. Niagra & also the R.M.S. Zealander and did the run back & forth from Sydyney to Vancouver.
By 1939 he enlisted in the Royal Australian Navy and lied about his age claiming to be younger than he really was. He was determained not to miss out again. He was accepted and went on to become a Petty Officer.
He served on H.M.A.S. Kanimbla, H.M.A.S. Manoora, and H.M.A.S. Westralia, being discharged in 1946.
He was married twice but never had any kids. Arthur died in Melbourne, Victoria in 1990, at the age of 90. So much for his bad heart!!
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