ARNOLD, Cecil James
| Service Number: | 5789 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 24 January 1916, Lismore, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 26th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Windsor, New South Wales, Australia, 13 June 1901 |
| Home Town: | Sydney, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Windsor Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Farm hand |
| Died: | Natural causes, Waterloo, New South Wales, Australia, 12 December 1974, aged 73 years |
| Cemetery: |
Woronora Memorial Park, Sutherland, New South Wales RC Plaque Lawn - 3 - 1387 |
| Memorials: | Bangalow Public School Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 24 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 5789, Lismore, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Oct 1916: | Involvement Private, 5789, 26th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Boonah embarkation_ship_number: A36 public_note: '' | |
| 21 Oct 1916: | Embarked Private, 5789, 26th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Boonah, Brisbane | |
| 30 Sep 1918: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 5789, 26th Infantry Battalion, Under age |
Service of Cecil James Arnold
16th Reinforcement, 2nd Division, 7th Brigade, 26th Infantry Battalion
Born Windsor 13.06.1901
Age at enlistment: 14 years 8 months
Enlisted Lismore 24.01.1916
Embarked Brisbane 21.10.1916 HMAT “Boonah”
TOS: 26th “Queenslanders” Battalion 09.04.1917, France.
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Cecil James (“Jim”) Arnold was able to enlist after his mother Sarah Arnold signed a letter endorsing him as being 18 years of age. He enlisted to join his older brother Frederick John Arnold, who would later be killed in action at Mont St Quentin on 01.09.1918.
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A military inquiry blamed Jim’s mother for allowing him to enlist.
Jim regularly faced disciplinary proceedings while on active service, due to his immaturity at enlistment. His offences included; conduct to the prejudice and good order of military discipline at parade, showing contempt towards senior officers, giving a false name to a senior officer, having his helmet not covered and rifle not cleaned, late on parade and regularly going AWOL.
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Following the deaths of many of his army pals while under fire, Jim wrote to his father, John Arnold, who subsequently pleaded with the Army for his safe return. Upon receiving written advice about his age, A.I.F High Command immediately removed Jim from the field and he was transferred to the Australian Corp Working Party on 05.02.1918. He was discharged from service on 31.07.2018, one month before the death of his brother whose company he yearned so much to keep.
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Despite his larrikin behavior in the field, Jim’s battle honours included 1st and 2nd Bullecourt, Passchendaele and Messines Ridge.
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Jim passed away on 12.12.1974 at Waterloo.
Submitted 25 November 2022 by Gavin Arnold
Biography contributed by Geoff Tilley
Private Cecil James Arnold 26th Battalion joined the AIF on 24th January 1916 he listed his age as 18 years on his attestation papers. He was born Windsor New South Wales.
He embarked from Australia on 21st October 1916 arriving in Plymouth UK on 10th January 1917.
Whilst in England Cecil’s records show that he committed several military offences as, Absent without leave, improper conduct on parade, false name, disobeying orders where he received forfeiture of pay. He was attached to the Australian Corps School.
He was sent to overseas on 4th April 1917 assigned to 26th Battalion and whilst in France committing further military offences as absent without leave, helmet not covered and rifle not cleaned.
In the beginning of 1918 Cecil was transferred to the Australian Corps Working Party again his records are noted “absent without leave”. On 4th July 1918 Cecil was transferred from France to Administration London for his transferred back to Australia.
On the 31st July 1918 his records are noted as being “Under Age” and it is established his date of birth is 13th June 1901. He would have been 14 years of age on his enlistment into the AIF. Interesting to ponder, has he lied about his age to join his older brother who joined the AIF only 9 days before Cecil.
Cecil returned to Australia on the 31st July 1918.
Biography contributed by John Edwards
Enlisted two weeks after his older brother 5174 Frederick John Arnold, on 24 Jan 1916 aged 15 years 7 months
He saw active service in France before eventually being discharged 2½ years after enlisting for being "under age"
Son of Sarah Ann Brooks and John Bede Arnold
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