| 
  • If you are citizen of an European Union member nation, you may not use this service unless you are at least 16 years old.

  • You already know Dokkio is an AI-powered assistant to organize & manage your digital files & messages. Very soon, Dokkio will support Outlook as well as One Drive. Check it out today!

View
 

McArthur-A-J-Pte-475 (redirected from McArthur A J Pte 475)

Page history last edited by Lenore Frost 4 years, 9 months ago

Volunteers of Essendon and Flemington, 1914-1918

 

Pte A J McArthur, courtesy of Kim

Phillips of The Spirits of Gallipoli

website. Source:  The Australasian,

3 July 1915, page iii. 

 

McArthur A J     Pte    475    Alexander James              7 Inf Bn    19    Salesman    Single    Pres       

Address:    Ascot Vale, St Leonards Rd, 59   

Next of Kin:    McArthur, Alexander James, 59 St Leonards Rd, Ascot Vale   

Enlisted:    17 Oct 1914       

Embarked:     A20 Hororata 19 Oct 1914   

Prior service:  58 Inf Regt.

 

Relatives on Active Service:

Jay A E Gunner 38978  cousin 

Jay E L Pte 4244 cousin

Jay W W Sgt 643 cousin

 

Date of Death:  25/04/1915

No.2 OUTPOST CEMETERY

 

His Heart's Blood.  Alex McArthur of Ascot Vale

 

Lenore Frost

 

Alex McArthur grew up in Ascot Vale, running with other boys around the playground of the Ascot Vale State School.  He attended the Ascot Vale Presbyterian Church in Maribyrnong Rd, Moonee Ponds, with his brother and sisters.   He  undertook his compulsory military training while still at school as a cadet, and as he grew older moved on to the Citizens Military Forces, serving with the 58 Infantry (Essendon Rifles) where he was promoted to Sergeant.  He worked as a salesman, and joined the Maribyrnong Lacrosse Club, associated with the Ascot Vale Presbyterian Church. 

 

CAREERS OF THE FALLEN (1915, June 23). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 13. 

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article154945795

 
Alex was a slight lad of five feet four inches (162 cm), 8 stone ten pounds (55 kg), with a fresh complexion, brown eyes and auburn hair, aged 19.  He was noted for his cheerful disposition. When the call came for recruits, Alex joined the excited queue of young men, many of whom he knew well,  down at the Essendon Drill Hall, and joined the 7 Infantry Battalion, to be commanded by his old CO of the Essendon Rifles, Colonel H E (Pompey) Elliott


Alex was assigned the Regimental number of 475, and the page of the Embarkation Roll in which he appeared was crowded with names of other young lads from the suburbs around his home, many of whom he would have known from the Essendon Rifles.  He got to know them better in the following months.  They embarked on the Hororata, leaving from Albany in WA in a convoy for what they thought was Europe, but changed en route to Egypt.   Training took place in the dry desert sands, but their immediate objective was the scrubby  shore of Turkey, on the Gallipoli Peninsula.


The troops were intended to disembark into rowboats which were then to be towed by pinnaces to the landing point within a few hundred meters of the shore, but on the night there was a long delay with the pinnaces not arriving to take the 7 Battalion ashore.  When sporadic fire began just before dawn the captain of the Galeka, standing off the coast, was reluctant to remain in the area to be a target for shelling, and the men of the 7 Bn  were ordered into the Galeka lifeboats to row themselves ashore, despite the lack of experience in rowing.    Alex was one of the D Company men who scrambled over the side of the Galeka and took up an oar. 
Alex’s boat soon came under fire, and men struck by bullets collapsed into the boat.   The only account of Alex’s death came from Colonel Elliott himself, though he was not an eye witness, not being in the boat.  It was a story Elliott liked to tell to extol the selfless bravery of the young men who lost their lives that day.  

Private Danaher was in one of the three leading boats on the day of the landing. He was not one of the oars men, and was consequently facing the enemy. He received a machine gun bullet in the face, just above the mouth. The bullet passed out of the back of his head, and he fell forward, dead without making a sound.   Private McArthur was in the same boat, and was one of the crew. The boat was caught in the machine gun fire, and a bullet passed clean through his neck as he rowed, and then through his thigh, severing the artery. Sergeant Bastin, the Platoon Sergeant, saw the blood spurt out, and attempted to rise to render first aid, but was so encumbered by the bodies of the fallen, that he could not get to his feet. McArthur saw his face and read his intention. "Don't bother with me, Sergeant,"- he called out "I am done for," and it was so. In about four or five minutes at the outside, he fell forward dead but until death relaxed his grasp on the oar he kept on rowing and keeping the stroke. He was a member of the Essendon Rifles - a Sergeant--and I am proud indeed of him and the manner of his death, which deserves to be recorded in the annals of his regiment for all time”.


The Ascot Vale State School “Book of Noble Deeds” refers to Alex as Corporal McArthur.  His army record of service is bare.  It records his date of joining, 17 August 1914, and the next entry is “Killed in Action”.  It may be that Alex was indeed promoted to Corporal, but there was no-one left to record it.


It would appear that Alex’s body was brought to shore, because he has a grave at No 2 Outpost Cemetery at Gallipoli.  He lies in company with other young men from the local area with whom he lived, ate, trained, enjoyed the sights of Cairo, perhaps together swam in the bright waters of the Aegean sea.  


Adams-J-K-Pte--510  Butt R Pte 423 Carless J N Pte 471 Danaher-E-B-Pte-477 Evans A Pte 425 Hawkins G G C Pte 496 Jones C E Pte 504 McDonald L G Pte 500  Pettigrew-T-C-Pte-505 Stone-R-F-Pte-435 Twining-J-J-Pte-483 Wills W H Pte 436


These  young men all died on or shortly after 25 April 1915.


The shock of these and other deaths and casualties back in Essendon and Flemington was immense as the lists of names began appearing in Melbourne papers.  Grieving was meant to be private, it was not the done thing to complain.  Only tributes to bravery and sacrifice were acceptable as public expression.   Alex’s family expressed their sorrow in short but heartfelt notices in the paper. Alex’s bible class friends remembered him along with his classmates, in another notice.  And in the egalitarian way of the Australian army, Lieutenant William Robert Ferguson Love, his mate Billie, paid a tribute of love to the memory of his boyhood friend with whom he played lacrosse in the joyous days before the war.

 

-------------------

 

 

The members of the Victorian Lacrosse Association who have enlisted in the Australian Expeditionary Forces are as follows:-

Maribyrnong Club.--Geo. Gilchrist, Chas. Levens, Wm. Love, Harold Lyttle, Alex. M'Arthur, A. J. Pratt.

 

NOTES. (1915, May 1). Leader (Melbourne, Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 20 Edition: WEEKLY. Retrieved May 29, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article91367372

 

The Argus, Monday 21 June 1915

 

PRIVATE ALEX. MACARTHUR,   B Company, 7th Battalion (killed) was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander MacArthur, St. Leonard's road, Ascotvale. At the age of 14 years he was a sergeant in the Commonwealth military cadet corp. When compulsory training was introduced he was also sergeant in the 58th Junior Cadets. Later he was transferred to the 58th Essendon Rifles, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Elliot. When volunteers were called for he was one of the first to respond. He had  his 20th birthday in Egypt. He was a member of the Maribyrnong Lacrosse Club, and all his life was associated  with the Ascotvale Presbyterian Church. Privates Danaher and Carless of Flemington, were his tent mates, and those three comrades fell together on King's Birthday.    

 

LACROSSE NOTES.

By LEFT ATTACK.

The war has claimed its toll of victims from the lacrosse field, and still players arc dropping out of their clubs and going into camp. Over 200 players have already enlisted. The news so far has given us four deaths—Lieutenant Dawkins and Privates H. Chambers (Kyneton), F. Langford (Canterbury), and A. J. McArthur (Maribyrnong). The sympathy of all lacrosseurs is with their relatives; the admiration of all is extended to them for their noble deaths.

LACROSSE. (1915, June 26). The Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 - 1946), p. 21. Retrieved April 15, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article142975693

 

 

Ascot Vale State School "Noble Deeds"

 

 

 

Ascot Vale State School "Noble Deeds"

 

McArthur Corporal

Corporal McArthur (says Brigadier General Elliott) answered the call to arms by enlisting immediately in the 7th Battalion.  He had been a trainee of the 58th Battalion; and enlisted when he was very young.  He was small in stature but sturdy in build, with a never-failing cheerfulness that was a valuable asset at the time when the camp at Broadmeadows was new and discomforts were prevalent.  He at once received recognition despite his youth, by being raised to the rank of Corporal.  At the landing at Gallipoli, he was detailed to the first boat to push off from the ship, the naval pin having failed to appear at the time fixed for them to convey the troops ashore.  It was therefore necessary to detail oarsmen to row ashore, and amongst those who undertook this duty was Corporal McArthur.

 

As this boat drew near the shore it was fired upon by a Turkish Machine Gun concealed upon the shore.  The boat was pierced again and again, the rowers sank down dead or dying whilst others kept their places, but still the boat kept on.  A bullet tore through McArthur’s thigh as he toiled at his oar, and severed his femoral artery;  his blood spurted out in a crimson stream across the boat.

 

A comrade bent forward to assist him but McArthur rejected his aid crying, “Never mind me.  I’m done”.  But though he knew that he was dying he continued to pull at his oar until with the last drop of blood drained from his body he fell forward dead.

 

It was a magnificent example of courage and devotion to duty, and McArthur and his comrades on this memorable occasion laid the foundation of the AIF which it because a sacred duty to maintain, for King, Country and the hallowed memory of the fallen at Anzac.

 

 

Mentioned in this publication

Essendon High School Magazine, Nov 1921, pp 13-16

Gilchrist G A L Cpl 416 letter in Essendon Gazette 14 Oct 1915

Letter from Col H E Elliott to Mayor Henderson in The Herald 7 Jan 1919

 

Brigadier General H E Elliott:

 

Bullets came like a shower of hail, some dropped dead, some fell wounded. There was one particular boy I have often told about, a boy named McArthur, who was down here at the West Essendon school.

 

He had a bullet through his leg which cut an artery. The blood spurted out across the boat. There was a friend of his in the back of the boat and he lifted a dead man from across his knee and went to his assistance. McArthur called out that he was done, but he kept plying his oar - he still kept on plying until the last drop of blood in his body drained out. He fell dead. At last the boat reached the shore.

 

Three only got out. The rest of them were wounded or dead lying in the boat. Now that was a terrible test for those boys to go through the very first day that they were in action. They had never heard a shot before, but they knew their duty well. If they had stopped, turned back, or hesitated, the enemy would have switched his gun on to the next boat and killed some other men. Men sacrificed themselves for others and for the benefit of their country.

 

For the good of your country, you may, at times, have to sacrifice your prospects, whether in your work or whether in social life, but it is hoped that we shall produce citizens, produce men who are capable of doing that. (Applause).

 

It is because I believe that this trophy placed before you will inculcate such a spirit in you, that I recommended the Committee to give their consent to these guns being given to the schools of Victoria, and I have therefore great pleasure in handing over this gun to your Mayor, knowing you will take proper care of it for the honor of this High School of Essendon.

Essendon High School Magazine, Nov 1921, pp 13-16

 

 

 

War Service Commemorated

Essendon Town Hall L-R

Ascot Vale Presbyterian Church *

Ascot Vale State School*

Ascot Vale State School Noble Deeds*

Patriotic Concert 1914

Anzac Honoured Dead  3 Jun 1915

Essendon Gazette Roll of Honour killed

Regimental Register

“Send off to the Essendon Boys”

58th-Infantry-Football-Club-(Essendon-Rifles)

 

In Memoriam

 

MCARTHUR.-In fond and loving memory of our
dear son and brother, Alexander James, who was
killed at Gallipoli, 25th April, 1915.
(Inserted by his loving father, mother, sisters, and
brother, and brother-in-law.)

Family Notices. (1916, April 25). The Argus  p. 1.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2103384

 

MACARTHUR -In affectionate remembrance of
Alex Macarthur, 7th Battalion, killed in action    
at the landing in Gallipoli, April 25, 1915
Non sibi sed cunctis,
Fide et opera.

[Not for himself but others, faith and work]
-(Inserted by his aunt Jessie)

Family Notices. (1917, April 25). The Argus, p. 1.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1613078

 

MCARTHUR.-In fond and loving memory of our
dear son and brother, Alexander James, who was
killed at Gallipoli, 25th April, 1915.
(Inserted by his loving father, mother, sisters, and
brother, and brother-in-law.)

Family Notices. (1917, April 25). The Argus, p. 1.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1613078

 

MACARTHUR.-In affectionate remembrance of
Private Alex. J. Macarthur, and all his brave
comrades of the 7th Battalion, who fell at the
landing on Gallipoli, April 25, 1915.
Oh, may their sacrifice and valour keep us
free! 

MACARTHUR.- A tribute of love to the memory
of Alex J. Macarthur, who made the supreme
sacrifice at the landing at Gallipoli, 25th April, 1915.
(Inserted by his pal, Lieutenant W. F. Love, on
active service abroad.)

Family Notices. (1918, April 25). The Argus, p. 1.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1654889

 

MACARTHUR -In fond and loving memory of our
dear son and brother, Alexander James, who was
killed in action at Gallipoli 25th April, 1915.
Non sibi sed cunctis,
Fide et opera.
Round the old house sad moans the wintry wind,
The last brown leaves are whirling from the
tree.
The red flame from the hearth glints up to find
Your picture, dear, 'tis all that's let to me
-(Inserted by his loving parents, sisters, and
brother and brother in law )

Family Notices. (1918, April 27). The Argus ), p. 13. 

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1655447

 

McARTHUR.— A tribute of love to the memory of
Corporal Alex. McArthur, died of wounds at the

landing of Gallipoli, 25th April, 1915.
A brave Anzac.
--(Inserted by his pal (Billie), Lieutenant W. R. F. Love,

England.)

Family Notices. (1919, April 25). The Argus, p. 1.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1460731

 

MACARTHUR - In memory of A J MacArthur,
7th Battalion, who was killed in action at  
Gallipoli, 25th April 1915.
Nom sibi seded cunctis   
Fide et opera 
E' en so, the coral heath to flower is breaking
'Mong the rough grass not far adown the creek
By rushy pools soon springtime will be waking,
The wattles will make golden all the steep 
-(Inserted by his loving parents, sisters, brother,
and brother in law )

Family Notices. (1919, April 26). The Argus  p. 13.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1461426

 

MACARTHUR.— In loving memory of Alexander
James MacArthur, 7th Batt., who was shot while  
rowing ashore to the landing at Gallipoli, and died
at his oar, keeping the stroke till death, aged 20 years.
Non sibi sed cunctis, Fide et Opera.
--(Inserted by aunt, Jessie Jay.)

Family Notices. (1920, April 24). The Argus, p. 13.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1695106

 

MACARTHER.— In memory of our dear Alick,
loving son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Macarthur, and
loving brother of Bella, Stella, Lily, Gordon, and
brother-in-law Stan.   
Gallipoli, 1914.
To-day recalls bad memories 
Of a dear one gone to rest;
And those who think of you to-day, 
Are those who loved you best.
 — (Inserted by his brother.)

Family Notices. (1921, April 25). The Argus, p. 1.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1750711

 

 

McARTHUR. —In sad but loving memory of our   
dear Alick, who was killed at Gallipoli on April 
25, 1915.
Cherished memories of one so dear    
Are oft recalled by a silent tear.       
(Inserted by his mother, father, sisters, brother   
and brother in law). 

McARTHUR. —In fond memory of Alec, beloved son 
of Mr and Mrs A McArthur, St Leonards road, 
Ascotvale.
Time passes, memories linger  

(Inserted by M E Newton, Glenhuntly)

Family Notices. (1923, April 25). The Argus, p. 1.

ttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1892688

 

McARTHUR.— In sad but loving memory of our
dear son and brother, A. J., who died at Galli-  
poli on 25th April, 1915. 
Sadly missed.
--(Inserted by his mother, father, sisters, brother,
and brother-in-law.)     

McARTHUR.— In loving memory of Alex., beloved 
son of Mr. and Mrs. McArthur, St. Leonards road,   
Ascotvale.
He answered his country's call. 
Ever remembered.)
--(By M. F. Newton, Glenhuntly.)

Family Notices. (1924, April 25). The Argus, p. 1.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1915169

 

A small tribute to the honour of Duncan and
Ross McCutcheon, Will Wotherspoon, Noel
Robertson, Jack Hodge, Chas Levens, Allan  
Bradley
, Alex McArthur, Allan Evans, Dr. J.
Fairley
. (From a Bible class-mate C.V.B., 
Ascotvale.) 
Family Notices. (1924, April 25). The Argus, p. 1.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1915169

 

 

No further years checked....

Comments (0)

You don't have permission to comment on this page.