Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Mawby, a quarry labourer, born in the January quarter of 1860 in Whetstone, Leicestershire (son of William Mawby and Sarah Needham) and his wife Mary Ann Mawby (nee Heggs, married on the 5th November 1883 in the Church of St. John the Divine, Leicester), born in the April quarter of 1862 in Sileby, Leicestershire and baptised on the 31st August 1862 in St. Mary’s Church, Sileby (daughter of John Heggs and Matilda Wykes). Arthur Ernest was born in the January quarter of 1893 in Whetstone and baptised on the 15th April 1894 in St. Peter’s Church, Whetstone, his siblings were, Florence Elizabeth, a stocking maker, born in the October quarter of 1884 and baptised on the 3rd May 1885 in St. Peter’s Church, Whetstone, John William, a shoe trade worker, born in the July quarter of 1886 and baptised on the 18th July 1886 in St. Peter’s Church, Whetstone, Lavinia Ann, born in the April quarter of 1889 and baptised on the 15th April 1894 in St. Peter’s Church, Whetstone, Charles Harry, born in the April quarter of 1895 and baptised on the 5th September 1897 in St. Peter’s Church, Whetstone, Ivy May, born in the April quarter of 1898 and baptised on the 22nd May 1898 in St. Peter’s Church, Whetstone and William Horace, born on the 27th July 1900 and baptised on the 9th September 1900 in St. Peter’s Church, Whetstone, all his siblings were born in Whetstone, in March 1901 the family home was at Main Street, Whetstone. In April 1911 Arthur was employed as a shoe trade finisher and was residing in the family home at High Street, Whetstone, together with his father, a hosiery trade worsted winder, his mother and siblings, John, a shoe trade laster, Lavinia a griswold knitter, Charles, a shoe trade finisher, Ivy, a shoe trade machinist and William, a schoolboy.
Arthur enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force on the 16th July 1915 in Liverpool, New South Wales, being assigned to the 4th Battalion, and was allotted the service number 2799. He gave his place of birth as Whetstone, Leicester. His age as 21, his trade or calling as station hand and marital status as single.
He gave his next of kin as his father William Mawby, High Street, Whetstone Leicester, England. 118, Marshall Street, Leicester, England.
His Description on Enlistment records: Age 21 years 5 months, height 5-feet 4½ inches, weight 126lbs, chest measurement 31½ to 34½ inches, complexion ruddy, eyes hazel, hair brown and Religious Denomination Baptist. Distinctive marks [none recorded].
He was considered fit for active service on the 16th July 1915 in Sydney.
During his period of military service, the following events of note occurred: -
Posted. To 6th Reinforcement Bn. Pte. 16/7/15 – 13/2/16.
Transferred. To 4th Bn. Australian Infantry. Pte. 14/2/16.
Taken on the strength of 4th Bn. Tel-el-Kebir. 14/2/16.
Embarked. From Alexandria for overseas service per H.T. Simla. 23/3/16.
Disembarked. At Marseilles, France. 30/3/16.
Wounded in action. In the Field. 24/7/16.
Admitted. To 3rd Casualty Clearing Station, gunshot wound to thigh. 24/7/16.
Transferred. To 36, Australian Field Ambulance. 24/7/16.
Transferred. Per 27th Ambulance Train. 24/7/16.
Admitted. To 1st Australian Ambulance. 24/7/16.
Admitted. To 1st Canadian General Hospital, Etaples. 25/7/16.
Died of wounds in the 1st Canadian General Hospital. 10/8/16.
Buried. In Etaples Military Cemetery, grave no. H 289.
Photograph of grave forwarded to next-of-kin. 24/10/18.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
The War Diary records: 24 Jul-16 – POZIERES. – Heavy shelling continued and many losses in “C” and “D.” Difficulty in sending forward water, food, Small Arms Ammunition, bombs, sand-bags etc. In afternoon relieved “C” and “D” Companies by “B” and “A” Companies respectively.
Conference of Commanding Officers at Brigade Headquarters 22.00. Divisional Operation Order received for an attack by 1st Brigade on morning of 26th. Brigade detailed orders not then written and Battalion Commanding Officers dismissed. Later at 24.15am an urgent message again summoned Commanding Officers to Brigade Headquarters on account of the operation to take place on morning of 25th. Only Commanding Officers 1st and 4th Battalions and 8th Battalion (attached to 1st Brigade) present. Orders dictated and completed at 01.30. 4th Battalion orders then dictated at X.10.a.6.2 to Bomb Officer and Lewis Machine Gun Officer, messages sent to assemble Companies in readiness and Company Commanders to meet Commanding Officer at X.4.c.3.1. Orders dictated and arrangements hurriedly completed by 03.25.
On Saturday August 19th, 1916, The Leicester Daily Mercury published the following article on page 4, under the heading. – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – Private Arthur E. Mawby, of the Australian Imperial Force, died from wounds in a Canadian Hospital in France on August 9th. His parents reside at Whetstone. He went to Australia about two years ago and joined the Australian force at the outbreak of war. He was aged 23.
On Saturday September 2nd, 1916, The Leicester Daily Mercury published the following article on page 5, under the heading. – LEICESTERSHIRE’S ROLL OF HONOUR. – Pvt. A. S. MAWBY, Australian Imperial Force, died of wounds in France Aug 7. His friends live at Whetstone.
[recognitum V-VIII-MMXXIII]