Arthur Candish

Arthur & Leah Candish 1920
Personal Information
Date of Birth	Not known
Place of Birth	Melbourne, Victoria
Death	3 Jul 1965, aged 75
Place of Death	Mandurah
Age at Enlistment	25 years, 1 month
Description	5' 10" (1.78m) tall; 152 lbs (68.9 kg); fresh complexion, brown eyes, dark brown hair
Occupation	brickmaker
Religion	Church of England
Address	Armadale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Mother Mrs Mary Ann Candish
Military Information
Reg Number	5074
Date of Enlistment	6 Jan 1916
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	16th Battalion, 16th Reinforcement, transferred to 48th Battalion 3 Sep 1916 / 12th Brigade, 4th Division
Date of Embarkation	31 Mar 1916 - 24 Apr 1916
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A9 Shropshire
Date of Return	31 Oct 1917 - 22 Dec 1917
Ship Returned On	HMAT A35 Berrima
Fate	Wounded in Action, 11 Apr 1917 at 1st Bullecourt Returned to Australia
Monument	Armadale War Memorial (West Armadale panel)
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

War Service

Travelled to Egypt as one of the 16th reinforcement draft for the 16th Battalion, but on 20 May 1916 was earmarked for the 48th Battalion.

Trained in Egypt prior to travelling to France on the HMT Huntspill, disembarking 14 Jun 1916 at Marseilles and joining the 4th Division Base Depot. Formally taken on strength by the 48th Battalion on 9 Jun 1916.

During the attack on Bullecourt 13 months later, he sustained a GSW to his right, upper arm, but initially was able to remain on duty after his wound was attended to. One of 435 casualties in his battalion that day. Subsequently he sought medical attention for his arm (21 July) from the 12th Australian Field Ambulance as his hand was by then paralysed.

Admitted to 6th General Hospital in Rouen on 24 Jul 1917, he embarked the same day on HMHS Carisbrook Castle for England and was admitted to the 1st London General Hospital.

Following treatment he was transferred to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield in late Aug 1917, given a period of leave in England, and as he was unfit for further action, sent home to Australia, and discharged at 5th Military District on 10 Apr 1918.

The 303rd Casualty List includes under WOUNDED, A Candish (Armadale) remaining on duty. The 334th Casualty List included: Candish, Arthur (Armadale), second occasion.

Post War

After arriving home, Arthur has an In Memoriam published in The West Australian 8 Jun 1918 p.1

"A tribute to the memory of my dear pal, Lance Corporal Frank Killmartin (48th Battalion), who was killed in action at Messines on June 8, 1917.

Despite his wounds Arthur remained an effective bowler in the South Suburban Cricket Association in the 1920s (e.g. 7 for 26 against Melville in Nov 1921. In March 1915 he was a member of the Kelmscott cricket team that defeated Queens Park, taking 5 for 55; and in May of the same year he was one of the best players in the Armadale football team that lost to Queens Park.

Married Leah Kerrison in 1920. Probable children:
Arthur George b.1922 m Olive ?, son Donald Gordon b. 1950. Arthur known as George died 27 May 2010 at Kalbarri.
Kathleen Joy b. 1925
Amy E. b. 27 Jan 1931 at Armadale
Cornelius died 27 May 1939 as an infant 1 month old
Leah died 30 Aug 1959 aged 63.

Electoral Roll entries - 1916 - 1930 address was PO Armadale, in 1931 it was Eighth road, Armadale. 1936 with his wife in Mandurah, and later rolls gave a 1 Rockford street, Mandurah address.

In 1943 he was one of two men on the Pinjarra based Main Roads Board Maintenance crew. Between 1935 and 1949 he paid his AWU dues each year.

When he enlisted with the 10th Garrison Battalion during WW2 (26 Feb 1941) he lowered his age, giving his date of birth as 8 Dec 1892, and his employment as foreman with the Main Roads Department.

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Memorial