Arthur (Hobo) BANKS

BANKS, Arthur

Service Number: 819
Enlisted: 29 August 1914
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 2nd Infantry Battalion
Born: Sherburn, Durham, United Kingdom , June 1892
Home Town: Newcastle, Hunter Region, New South Wales
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Labourer and Electrician trainee
Died: KIA - buried in trench by shell, Pozieres, France, 25 July 1916
Cemetery: No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Newcastle Congregational Church, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France)
Show Relationships

World War 1 Service

29 Aug 1914: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 819, 2nd Infantry Battalion
18 Oct 1914: Involvement Private, 819, 2nd Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Suffolk embarkation_ship_number: A23 public_note: ''
18 Oct 1914: Embarked Private, 819, 2nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Suffolk, Sydney

Help us honour Arthur Banks's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Evan Evans

From Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery 
 
An Original Anzac awaiting memorialisation at Sandgate Cemetery.

107 years ago today, on the 25th July 1916, Private Arthur Banks, referred to as Hobo, 2nd Battalion (Reg No-819), labourer and electrician trainee from 26, 28, 30 Watt Street, Newcastle, New South Wales, was Killed in Action when buried in a trench by an enemy artillery shell at the Battle of Pozieres, age 24.

Born at Sherburn, Durham, United Kingdom about 1892 to William (died 2.12.1945, age 75) of 26, 28, 30 Watt Street, Newcastle, New South Wales and 'Earl's Court', Saratoga, N.S.W. (1922) and Dunbar Street, Stockton, N.S.W. and Swansea, N.S.W., and Mary Ann Banks nee Farmer (died 28.12.1922, age 54) of 4 Mary Street, Glebe (Merewether), New South Wales, Arthur enlisted on the 29th August 1914 at Sydney, N.S.W.

Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on board Transport A23 Suffolk on the 18th October 1914.

Wounded in action - 7.8.1915 (fractured collar bone, Battle of Lone Pine).

Admitted to hospital 14.8.1915 (SW left shoulder).
Rejoined Battalion 26.2.1916.

Arthur’s name has been inscribed on the Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France.
Mr. Bank’s name has also been inscribed on the Gardner Memorial, Book of Gold and the Newcastle Central Methodist Mission Roll of Honor Board 2.
Place of Association – Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.

There is no memorial inscription on the headstone plaque for the Banks family to tell us of the loss of their son during The Great War, and I am unable to erect a Memorial cross, so I have placed poppies in remembrance of Arthur’s service and supreme sacrifice for God, King & Country. ANGLICAN 1-81. 111.

Older brother John (Jack, born Sherburn, Durham, United Kingdom about 1887, fettler from 26, 28, 30 Watt Street, Newcastle, New South Wales, enlisted 10.8.1915, 13th Battalion, Reg No-3684, awarded Military Medal 3.11.1918, RTA 20.5.1919, died 8.8.1928, Stockton, N.S.W., resting at Stockton General Cemetery, also served 1st A.I.F.

Older brother Charles (born Sherburn, Durham, United Kingdom about 1890, electrical winch driver from 26, 28, 30 Watt Street, Newcastle, New South Wales, enlisted 7.9.1914, an Original Anzac, 13th Battalion, Reg No-822, wounded in action - 7.8.1915 (GSW forehead), RTA 5.2.1916, died 9.4.1962, age 71, Sydney, N.S.W., Plaque in New South Wales Garden of Remembrance, officially commemorated.

Younger brother Edward (born Sherburn, Durham, United Kingdom 15.10.1893, blacksmith & electrical winch driver from 26, 28, 30 Watt Street, Newcastle, New South Wales, enlisted 7.9.1914, an Original Anzac, 13th Battalion, Reg No-823, RTA 10.3.1916, reenlisted 12.8.1918, Reg No-93667, demobilsed 18.11.1918, died 15.7.1979, age 85, district unknown, not officially commemorated) also served 1st A.I.F.

Contact with descendants would be greatly appreciated.

For more detail, see “Forever Remembered “
http://www.commemoratingwarheroes.com/cemetery-main-search/

Lest We Forget.

Read more...