Arthur Thomas Orton MM
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | unknown |
| Place of Birth | London, England |
| Death | 12 Dec 1939 |
| Place of Death | Mt Hawthorn, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 19 years, 11 months |
| Description | 5'7¼" (1.71m) tall; weight 149 lbs (67.6 kg); sallow complexion, blue eyes, brown hair |
| Occupation | dairy farmer |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | 'Ferry Downs', Beenup, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Mother Mrs Florence Orton. |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 1774 |
| Date of Enlistment | 18 Jan 1915 |
| Rank | Corporal |
| Unit/Formation | 12th Battalion, 4th Reinforcement but transferred to 3rd Machine Gun Coy (later redesignated 1st MG Battalion) |
| Date of Embarkation | 19 Apr 1915 - unknown at |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A8 Argyllshire |
| Date of Return | 21 Jun 1818 - 3 Aug 1919 |
| Ship Returned On | SS Königin Luise |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Monument | Armadale War Memorial (Beenup panel) |
| Medals |
Military Medal 1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
War Service
After entering Blackboy Hill camp, Arthur is allocated to the 4th reinforcement draft for the 12th Battalion, and travelled with them to Egypt before being taken on strength by the battalion proper on 26 May 1915 on the Gallipoli Peninsula.
Influenza stuck, and on 20 Aug 1915 he was seen by No1 Field Ambulance and sent on to No2 Casualty Clearing Station before being evacuated to Mudros. He was sent via HMT Caledonia to England, where he was admitted to No1 London General Hospital in Camberwell on 1 Sep 1915. It wasn't until 25 Mar 1916 that he was returned to Alexandria in Egypt on HMT Caledonia.
He joined the 3rd Training Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir on 17 Apr 1916 and a week later was made acting Corporal.
On 20 May 1916 he arrived in France, and spent some time in the 1st Division Base Depot in Étaples. He was transferred from the 12th Battalion to the 3rd Brigade Machine Gun Company, joining them on 29 Oct 1916. On 14 Oct 1917 he was sent for a month to the Army Rest Camp, and while there he received word that he had been awarded the Military Medal.
He had several short stints in hospital with Eczema, but on 26 Mar 1918 he received severe accidental burns to his face, neck and hands that required hospitalisation. Travelled to England on the HS Ville de Liege and after he recovered he spent a further six months at No 3 Command Depot in Hurdcott before returning to his unit in France on 1 Dec 1918.
On 17 Jan 1919 he moved back to England, to begin his journey home, but waited for a ship carrying men and their wives, the SS Konigin Louise. Discharged in 5th Military District 2 Oct 1919.
1917 Feb-Mar edition. "... He was wounded in Gallipoli, and spent six months in hospitals in Malta and England. Has since been transferred to a machine gun section and is now in France."
Award Comment
Military Medal
"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. On 4/10/1917 at BROODSEINDE RIDGE, L/Cpl ORTON, having been buried by a shell which killed one and wounded two of his gun crew refused to leave his gun and carried on. On the following day he was again buried under precisely the same circumstances and badly shaken, but despite his officer's advice to the contrary, he persisted in remaining with his gun until relieved on 10/10/17" [1] and [2]
Post War
Married in England on 29 Apr 1918 to Edith Ellen Gabriel who was 26 years old, living in Cambridge road, Hammersmith, London. Edith died 4 May 1969 aged 78 in Maylands.
Electoral Roll entries - On arrival back in WA, Arthur joined the Police force, and in 1922 - 1925 they are at 5 Fairbairn street, Fremantle; 1928 - 1937 Police station Quairading; Prior to Arthur's death, he and Edith move to 14 The Boulevarde, Leederville where Edith remained until after 1954, given that in 1958 she was at 72 Onslow road, Shenton Park; in 1963 at 42 Waroonga road, Claremont; 1968- 1969 at 3 Kirkham Hill terrace, Maylands. Children Ray and Joan E (1927 - )