Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Arthur Wisby overstated his age to enlist in 1915. He was born in Creswick in Victoria in 1898. His father, David Wisby then lived in Ballarat with Eleanor Wisby, who was his step mother. His birth mother, Christina Wisby nee Warr had predeceased him back in Creswick in 1904. Hence his father David then remarried Eleanor Hyde in 1906.

Arthur was educated at Creswick State School. His full name is Arthur Charles Wisby as per his 1898 birth registration record. He omitted his middle name when he enlisted in 1915. For he had stated that he was several years older than his actual age. Hence he provided AIF recruitment with less checkable details.

He was by then working as a packer, somewhere near Ballarat.

Arthur answered a coo-ee call from 1915 Dardanelle posters to re-enforce the Anzac's. He was patriotic. Hence enlisted. Though the chance to escape his mundane job and travel overseas would have been a significant factor.

He trained in Egypt in 1916 before being tranferred to the 58th Infantry Battalion. Arthur was then sent to France, via Marseilles.

He did not fight with the Anzacs at Gallipoli as was his original plan. For the Anzac's had been withdrawn by the time he transitted their AIF Suez encampment. Hence he was sent to France.

Arthur suffered gunshot wounds to his legs while he was fighting in France. The wound to his left leg sustained on 19 July 1916, was described as quite severe. Hence he was evacuated to England for Hospitalistion. That specialist medical treatment is what saved his leg.

He had four months of medical treatment, including his recuperation leave, before rejoining his unit in France. Arthur, having been patched up was sent back into action. He was KIA on 02 Feb 1917.

His mates was buried him in what was called the "monsoon trench". Located opposite their Bapaume township objective in France. NAA AIF File page 8.

However, further heavy fighting meant that his field burial trench near the German held Bapaume township was destroyed. For Bapuame was not captured until on 17 March 1917. It was then again recaptured by the Germans during their epic 1918 Spring Offensive. 

Hence Arthur's field buried trench near Bapaume was totally obliterated by the end of the war. Therefore he is listed on the Villers-Brentonneux Memorial for those fallen without a known grave.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission and the War Office record his full legal name. NAA AIF File on page 25, certified at Victoria Barracks Melbourne on 10 Jan 1919 records his full name. Likewise AWM Roll of Honour.    

PTE Arthur Charles Wisby [4622] 58th Infantry Battalion was 18 years old when KIA. His family death notice published by his father in the Ballarat Courier on 02 March 1917. This states his exact age. His mother, Christina who had preceased him in 1904 is likewise named in his Death notice.   

His father and step mother were both quick to apply for Commonwealth War Pension payments in the fallen soldier's dependant category. They were both rejected as per page 30 of Arthur's NAA AIF File. 

The reason was quite simple. Neither parents were dependent on their underage son when he enlisted without their consent in 1915.