Arthur Leworthy Bettenay
From Our Contribution
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| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | c1894 |
| Place of Birth | Mildura, Victoria |
| Death | 7 Dec 1978, aged 83 |
| Place of Death | Roleystone, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 21 years 4 months |
| Description |
5' 11" (1.8m) tall ; 134 lbs 60.781 kg ; Sallow complexion complexion ; grey eyes ; dark brown hair |
| Occupation | Orchardist |
| Religion | Congregational |
| Address | Karragullen, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father , Mr Joseph Bettenay |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 2056 & W67631 |
| Date of Enlistment | 26 Apr 1916 |
| Rank | Signaller |
| Unit/Formation | 44th Battalion, 3rd Reinforcement |
| Date of Embarkation | 10 Oct 1916 ‒ 2 Dec 1916 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A23 Suffolk |
| Date of Return | 25 Jan 1919 ‒ 3 Mar 1919 |
| Ship Returned On | HMAT A40 Ceramic |
| Fate |
Wounded in Action 8 Jun 1917 at Ploegsteert, Belgium Returned to Australia |
| Monument |
Kelmscott War Memorial (West panel) Roleystone Honour Board |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
1916 Electoral Roll lists Arthur as living at 'Irymple', Karragullen, Western Australia.
WW 1 Service
On entering Blackboy Hill camp, Arthur joined the 64th Depot Company, before being allocated on 4 May 1916 to the 16th reinforcement draft for the 28th Battalion. On 18 Jul 1916 he was transferred to the 3rd draft for the 44th Battalion and proceeded to England with them. After little more than a fortnight with the 11th Training Battalion at Larkhill, on 20 Dec 1916 he boarded HMT Princess Victoria for France from Folkstone.
He joined the 44th Battalion on 4 Feb 1917 when they were in the trenches in front of Armentiès. Arthur was with them for 4 months as a signaler before being wounded as the 44th Battalion took part in stage 2 of the attack on German positions on Messines Ridge. Arthur received a minor shrapnel wound (bruising) to his right shoulder. After some initial treatment from the 9th Field Ambulance he was sent to the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station on 8 Jun 1917 and then placed on Ambulance Train No. 19 for the 8th General Hospital in Rouen. On 14 Jun 1917 he was placed on HMHS St George for England where he was admitted to the Richmond Military Hospital next day.
Arthur was transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital on 22 Jun 1917 and then sent on furlough from 25 Jun - 9 Jul 1917 after which he reported to No. 1 Command Depot at Perham Downs. Here he was on 11 Jul 1917 charged with having been AWOL from 3:30pm on 9 Jul 1917 until 8:30amon 10 Jul 1917. Guilty, he was admonished and forfeited 2 day's pay. Sent to the 11th Training Battalion on 16 Sep 1917 and then the 10th Training Battalion at Sutton Mandeville on 5 Nov 1917 where he remained until he returned to France via Folkstone on 15 Apr 1918.
Five days after arriving back in France, Arthur was admitted to hospital sick, before being invalided with Trench fever to the UK on 2 May 1918 aboard HMHS Carisbrook Castle. Initially treated by the Sutton Veny Military Hospital for appendicitis, he was released to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital on 22 May 1918. From here he was granted furlough from 31 May 1918 until 14 Jun 1918. Like many before him, he returned from leave late and was charged with being AWOL from midnight 16 Jul 1918 until 5:50am on 17 Jul 1918, for which he was admonished.
On 7 Aug 1918 he was transferred to the Overseas Training Brigade, but later that day reported ill to the Sutton Veny Military Hospital. At some point he was admitted to the 1st Australian General Hospital remaining with them until 4 Jan 1919 when he returned to duty with the Overseas Training Brigade before returning to Australia where Arthur took his discharge at the 5th Military District on 23 Apr 1919.
Mr. and Mrs. J. Bettenay, of Irymple. Karragullen, have received notice from the Base Records Office, Melbourne, that their eldest son, Signaller Arthur L. Bettenay, of the 44th Battalion, has been wounded.[1]
On the 441st Official Casualty List he was reported ILL.
Papers report that he appeared on returning List 'N' (aboard the S.S. Ceramic).[2]
Post War
Mr. A. Bettenay of Karragullen has taken delivery of a Model A Ford.[3]
1921 -1977 Electoral Roll entries show him as living at "Irymple" Karragullen, orchardist with wife Mable Ruth [nee Parker] who he had married in 1920. Children: Wilfred J b. 24 Dec 1920; Vernon A b. 29 Oct 1922; Roy A b. 26 May 1924; Edna M b. 3 Jan 1926; and Eric b. 1927.
In April 1937 Arthur was elected to the Armadale-Kelmscott Road Board for a 1 year term.
Shipping Lists show that on 13th Sep 1951 Arthur and Mable sailed on the P&O SS Strathmore from London to Fremantle, seemingly the return leg of a holiday to England.
WW 2 Service
Enlisted in Armadale on 22 Mar 1942 aged 47 years, 7 months and given Army No. W 67631. His NOK was Mabel Ruth Bettenay, his wife. Posted to D Company of the 2nd (Fremantle) VDC Battalion, he was promoted Corporal on 1 Jul 1942, but reverted to private at his own request on 16 Oct 1942. On 5 May 1944 he was discharged at his own request after being a member for 2 years and 45 days.
References
- ↑ "WAR CASUALTIES.". The West Australian. XXXIII, (4,763). Western Australia. 9 July 1917. p. 6. Retrieved 18 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "COMING HOME". The Daily News. XXXVII, (13,634). Western Australia. 5 November 1918. p. 1 (SECOND EDITION). Retrieved 27 July 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "MOTORS & MOTORING". Sunday Times (Perth) (1641). Western Australia. 7 July 1929. p. 2 (Third Section). Retrieved 18 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia.