ARSCOTT, Victor Preston
| Service Number: | 2882 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 24 January 1916, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 32nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Brompton, South Australia, 22 January 1893 |
| Home Town: | Brompton, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Brompton Public School |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 23 August 1916, aged 23 years |
| Cemetery: |
Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix, Bethune, Nord Pas de Calais |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Brompton Park Methodist Church & Sunday School Roll of Honour, Ridleyton Uniting Church Memorial Plaque |
World War 1 Service
| 24 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2882, Adelaide, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Apr 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2882, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Aeneas embarkation_ship_number: A60 public_note: '' | |
| 11 Apr 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2882, 32nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Aeneas, Adelaide | |
| 23 Aug 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2882, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières |
Sunday Schools mates
Victor Arscott was a good friend of my grandfather, Thomas Alfred Burton as they both attended the Brompton Park Sunday school. They enlisted in the 32 Battalion around the same time, Victor's Serial # was 2882, Thomas' was 2807.
The Brompton Park Methodist Church I believe became the Croydon Methodist Church and Victor was fondly remembered there particularly for his Sunday School service.
I recall that as a child attending the Croydon Methodist Sunday school that on the wall of the "Primary Room" there was a large marble memorial plaque honouring Victor.
Because of my age, I did not grasp the significance of the plaque, and only in later years researching my grandfather's war service, did it come to really mean something.
In my grandgfather's Soldiers Own Diary 1916 on 23rd August 1916, he wrote
"A most heart breaking day as it was at about 6 pm on this day that poor Vic got "Called Home."
The Croydon Church was demolished in 2016 and the plaque was moved to the Croydon Park Uniting Church, Torrens Rd., Croydon Park.
This site was formerly known as the Gelland Uniting Church.
Submitted 24 August 2016 by Robert Bruce Short
Biography
"PRIVATE ARSCOTT'S DEATH.
Great regret was expressed at Croydon when word came through that Private Victor P. Arscott was killed in action in France. Private Arscott enlisted in January of this year, and embarked in April. He was an only son, and was most popular. He was educated at Brompton Public School, and on leaving entered the employ of Messrs. G. Wood, Son, & Co., and enlisted from there. He was held in high esteem by his employers and fellow-employes. As a member of the Clerks' Union Mr. Arscott was a stanch supporter of Labor. He also took great interest in church work, having attended the Brompton Park Sunday School for 21 years, and was superintendent when he enlisted. Sincere sympathy is expressed with his parents (Mr. and Mrs. James Arscott)." - from the Adelaide Daily Herald 19 Oct 1916 (nla.gov.au)
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