GELSTON, Arthur John
| Service Number: | 4146 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 2 August 1915, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1) |
| Born: | Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia, 3 August 1892 |
| Home Town: | Hawthorn, Mitcham, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Christian Brothers College, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | 23 September 1982, aged 90 years, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Enfield Memorial Park, South Australia Cremated on the 27th of September 1982 |
| Memorials: | Adelaide Christian Brothers' College WW1 Roll of Honor, Flinders Park Staff of the South Australian Gas Company Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 2 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Jan 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 4146, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Borda embarkation_ship_number: A30 public_note: '' | |
| 11 Jan 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 4146, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), HMAT Borda, Adelaide | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), Battle for Pozières |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by St Dominic's Priory College
Arthur John Gelston, Also known as ‘Jack Gelston’, was born on the 3rd of August 1892 in Hawthorn, Victoria.
Arthur John Gelston was born to Mrs. Elizabeth Emma Gelston (maiden name Weman) and Mr. Hastings Atkins Gelston. Arthur was the third youngest out of his 7 other siblings: Hedley Ringrose Gelston (1883 – 1948); Richard Hastings Gelston (1885 – 1964); Hubert Cecil Gelston (1887 – 1906, aged 19 of typhoid fever); Laura May Read (1888 – 1972, nee Gelston); Anges Gwendoline Kealy (1890 – 1952, nee Gelston); Arthur John Gelston (1892 – 1982); Esther Elizabeth Kranz (1898 – 1984, nee Gelston); Kathleen Rita Goss (1901 – 1981, nee Gelston)
At some stage the family moved to Adelaide from Victoria because Arthur attended school at Christian Brothers College in Adelaide. The day before he turned 23 Gelston enlisted into 13th Reinforcements for the 16th Infantry Battalion on the 2nd of August 1915. On his Attestation paper Gelston stated his mother, Elizabeth Gelston as his next of kin and her address was Clifton Street, Hawthorn. His attestation paper also states that he had previously worked as a clerk prior to enlisting. Arthur was a 5’8” (173cm) ‘natural born’ British subject with a fair complexion and fair hair with blue eyes; His religious domination was Roman Catholic.
On the 4th of August 1915, Arthur John Gelston arrived at the training camp in Egypt. where he underwent training. He was moved to the 48th Battalion 9th March 1916. This is because the 16th Battalion was split into the 48th Battalion and provided with more experienced soldiers.
On the 17th of March 1916, Gelston was reverted back to the rank of Private, until the 24th of March where he was promoted to the rank of Temporary Corporal. Later, on the 17th of May, Arthur was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. He proceeded overseas to France in June 1916. He was wounded 7th August 1916 and the next day admitted to the 14th General Hospital with contusion to his back. He then spent time convalescing at base dept before rejoining the 48th Battalion 20th November 1916.
Gelston was promoted to Warrant officer class II, vice Company Sergeant Major on 5th December 1916 until his promotion to 2nd Lieutenant in the following year, the 23rd of February 1917. In February 1917 he was hospitalised with an infection and returned to based in early May only to return to hospital a week later. He returned to base depot 10th November 1917 and rejoined the 48th Battalion 27th November 1917. On the 1st of December 1917, Gelston was promoted to Lieutenant.
In August 1918 Gelston took 2 weeks leave in France and on his return attended an Intelligence Course and obtained a satisfactory report. On the 26th of November 1918, several days after the armistice Gelston was awarded the Military Cross for “conspicuous gallantry and initiative in command of a platoon during the operation near Le Verquier, north-west of St. Quentin, on the 18th of September 1918.”
Gelston returned to Australia 15th of November 1919 arriving back on 25th November 1919. He had his appointment terminated 1st April 1920
Gelston died on the 23rd of September 1982, aged 90 years old. His service was held at Enfield Memorial Park and was cremated on the 27th of September 1982.
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