Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

"Artie" Arthur Samuel MORTIMER

Born 22 March 1890 in Gingin, Western Australia [16]
Son of Joseph MORTIMER and Ellen Eliza SIMS [15]
Railway Employee in Moora for four and a half years 1906-1910 [9: 1-Jul-1910]
Won the 100 Yards for Employees Under 20 at the Midland Railway Employees Picnic in Gingin in 1908 [9: 27-Nov-1908]
Transferred to Three Springs in mid 1910 when Three Springs was upgraded from a railway siding to a station [9: 1-Jul-1910]
Officer in Charge of the Railway Station in Three Springs in 1910, and Railway Stationmaster in 1911 [6] [9: 1-Jul-1910]
He was described as "a strong favourite of all, as a courteous, active, and obliging officer, an athlete, and a good sport" [31: 30-Jun-1911]
Member of the Three Springs Football Club in 1910 [9: 22-Jul-1910]
Inaugural Auditor of the Three Spring Race Club in 1910 and 1911 [9: 23-Dec-1910]
Organised an Athletic Sports Meeting which was held in Three Springs on Easter Monday 17 April 1911 [9: 7-Apr-1911]
The Sports Meeting made a profit of £14/2/8 which went towards the building fund for a local Agricultural Hall [9: 21-Apr-1911]
He Competed in some of the events at the Sports Meeting and won both the District Handicap race and the 440 Yards race [9]
Left Three Springs in April 1911 after a promotion to the Midland Railway Company's head office in Midland Junction [9: 7-Apr-1911]
He had returned to Three Springs by 1914 and was working locally as a Contractor[19] [30]
Member of the Three Springs Football Club in 1914 [9: 7-Aug-1914]
He was the only goal kicker for Three Springs in a football match against Coorow at Coorow in early July 1914 [10: 10-Jul-1914]
It was reported in early September 1914 that he had volunteered and was accepted for service in the A.I.F. [10: 4-Sep-1914]
Officially enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 14 September 1914 in Blackboy Hill [30: item 4375543]
On enlistment he was noted as 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighing 162 lbs. with blue eyes, light brown hair and a fair complexion [30]
Embarked from Fremantle, Western Australia for active service abroad on the H.M.A.T. A7 Medic on 2 November 1914 [18]
Private 840 in the Australian Imperial Forcer's 12th Battalion in Gallipoli and Dardanelles, Turkey during the First World War [30]
Wounded in Action - received a severe Gunshot Wound to his chest on 3 May 1915 in Dardanelles, Turkey [30]
Over a month later word of his wounding reached his homeland, and was reported in The Moora Herald newspaper [10: 18-Jun-1915]
Received treatment for his gunshot wound in Egypt and England before being invalided back to Australia in November 1915 [30]
Embarked Portland, England on the Runic and disembarked in Fremantle, Western Australia on 13 December 1915 [30]
Discharged from the Australian Imperial Force on 12 July 1916; received the 1914/15 Star, British War and Victory Medals [30]
His name appears on the Three Springs Honour Board, which was unveiled on Tuesday 3 June 1919 [9: 6-Jun-1919] [10: 13-Jun-1919]
Farm Manager for Mrs Minnie M. WATSON of Moonlight Farm in Three Springs 1917-1945 [4: 11-Jun-1927] [19] [96]
He had promised George R. WATSON before he died that he would manage the farm for Mrs WATSON [4: 19-Feb-1938]
The farm was 1,503 acres in size and consisted of Lots M752, M753, M754, M755, M759 & M760 of Victoria Location 2020 [44]
Won the Gretna Green in the ring events at the Three Springs Day held in Three Springs on 26 September 1917 [10: 5-Oct-1917]
Member of the Three Springs Saint Patrick's Day Committee in 1918 and 1928 [124]
Clerk of Scales for the horse races at the Sports Meeting held in Three Springs on Saint Patrick's Day in 1918 and 1919 [124]
In 1920 donated £1/1/- to the Committee, and assisted them as Acting Secretary on the day of their Picnic Race Meeting [124]
Acting Secretary of Three Springs Saint Patrick's Day Committee in January 1921; donated £1/1/- to the Committee in 1924 [124]
Donated an ink stand for the inter-school race at the Red Cross Gala Day in Three Springs on Thursday 23 May 1918 [10: 31-May-1918]
Attended May BERRIGAN's 21st Birthday held at the Agricultural Hall in Three Springs on Friday 12 September 1919 [9: 19-Sep-1919]
Came 2nd in the Sheffield Handicap race at the Three Springs Day in Three Springs on Thursday 26 September 1918 [10: 4-Oct-1918]
Rendered "There is a Wasa" at the Returned Soldiers Reunion held in Three Springs on Wednesday 13 November 1918 [10: 22-Nov-1918]
Winner of the Footballer's Handicap and Sheffield Handicap at the Peace Day Celebrations in Carnamah on 19 July 1919 [10: 25-Jul-1919]
Won the Maiden and Sheffield Handicap races at the Arrino Picnic Railway Day in Arrino on Saturday 20 November 1919 [9: 5-Dec-1919]
Member of the Three Springs Race Club - was Secretary 1919-1923 [10: 10-Jan-1919, 17-Mar-1922] [9: 12-Mar-1920, 25-Feb-1921, 9-Feb-1923]
Committee Member of the Three Springs Race Club in 1928 and 1929 [4: 1-Dec-1928, 23-Feb-1929]
Clerk of the Course at the Three Springs Race Club's Race Meeting held in Three Springs on Thursday 11 April 1929 [4: 23-Feb-1929]
Won the Serving Race and the Victoria Cross Race at the Three Springs Day held on Thursday 23 September 1920 [10: 15-Oct-1920]
Attended May BERRIGAN's 21st Birthday at the Three Springs Hall on 12 September 1919; gave her a glass scent spray [9: 19-Sep-1919]
Won the Sheffield Handicap, Pillow Fight and Soldiers Race at the Three Springs Day on Thursday 25 September 1919 [10: 3-Oct-1919]
His horse Chester came 3rd in the A.I.F. Plate race at the Picnic Race Meeting in Carnamah on Thursday 16 September 1920 [10]
Also competed in the sports events of the day, winning the Sheffield Handicap by the narrow margin of a few inches [10: 1-Oct-1920]
His horse Chester was a starter in the Hack Race at the Carnamah Peace Day Celebrations on Saturday 19 July 1919 [10: 25-Jul-1919]
Chester won the Hurry Scurry and came 2nd in the Hack Race at the Picnic Races in Three Springs on 17 March 1920 [124]
His horse Chester had also come 2nd in the Hack Race at the Carnamah Races on Thursday 11 March 1920 [10: 19-Mar-1920]
His five year old horse Iberis came 2nd in the Midland Handicap race at the Moora Races on Tuesday 15 March 1921 [10: 4 & 18-Mar-1921]
His horses Mardoo, Iberis, Grey Pat and Home Again all ran and won prizes in the Carnamah Races on 28 March 1921 [9: 8-Apr-1921]
Mardoo won the Maiden Plate; Grey Pat came 2nd in the Pony Race; and Iberis came 2nd in the Yarri Yarri Handicap [9]
In the Local Handicap of seven furlongs, the main race of the day, Mardoo came first and Home Again 2nd [10: 1-Apr-1921]
He is believed to have leased the horses Mardoo and Home Again from their owner Donald MACPHERSON of Carnamah [--]
Helped with and attended the wedding of Robert A. CALDOW and May I. BYRNE in Three Springs on 5 October 1921 [9: 21-Oct-1921]
Motored to Moora with Donald MACPHERSON to attend the Race Meeting in Moora on Tuesday 14 March 1922 [10: 17-Mar-1922]
Part of the Three Springs Kangaroo Hunting & Picnic Party of Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd September 1922 [9: 15-Sep-1922]
On his horse Chester chased a kangaroo towards a buggy loaded with lady spectators to enable them to see more of the hunt [9]
His horse went onto the kangaroo and then fell, with the ladies crying "Oh, Arthur is gone! " but he rose and continued hunting [9]
Won the Rescue Race and came 2nd in the Sheffield Handicap at the Three Springs Day on Thursday 28 September 1922 [9: 20-Oct-1922]
He rode his employer's horse Moonchester in the Gent's Hack at the Annual Show in Carnamah on 20 September 1923 [86: 4-Oct-1923]
He was afraid of the horse partaking in its playful little habit of "doing a bunk" and that it would break the reins [86]
As soon as the horse wanted to bolt he, or another rider known as Millsie, both got off straight away and led the horse back [86]
In the Ladies Hack he wanted to do the same thing but Miss GREEN of Carnamah instead took him for a burl over the sandplain [86]
On returning a very shocked Moonchester was of an entirely different behaviour - the incident being a feature of the show [86]
It was reported "that you could have ridden him with a silk rein or a bit of cobwebs when the lady was finished with him" [86]
Riding the horse Chester he came 2nd in the Gent's Hack at the Annual Show & Sports Carnival in Carnamah in 1923 [86: 4-Oct-1923]
After spending a holiday in Perth learning about Fordson tractors he returned to Three Springs by train on 8 June 1927 [4: 11-Jun-1927]
Attended the wedding of Alexander J. F. BROWN and Clara V. BERRIGAN at the Carnamah Hall on 28 August 1928 [4: 8-Sep-1928]
He was among the 400 people who attended the Matrons and Benedicts Ball held in Three Springs on 31 August 1928 [4: 8-Sep-1928]
Travelled to Perth for a holiday in early February 1929 [4: 9-Feb-1929]
Among those who travelled from Three Springs to the coast for a day in a truck and two cars on Saturday 23 March 1929 [4: 6-Apr-1929]
Conducted a sideshow at the Ball that following the Three Springs Race Club's Race Meeting on 11 April 1929 [4: 20-Apr-1929]
He was among those from Three Springs who attended the Perth Royal Show in October 1929 [4: 19-Oct-1929]
Attended the funeral of Charles C. MALEY M.L.A. at the Karrakatta Cemetery in Perth on 16 October 1929 [4: 19-Oct-1929]
Attended the Commemoration Dinner held at the Commercial Hotel in Three Springs on Friday 26 August 1932 [5: 9-Sep-1932]
The dinner was to commemorate Three Springs having the highest average yield for wheat in the State for the 1931-32 season [5]
Competed in the Horse Events of the Fourth Three Springs Agricultural Show on Thursday 22 September 1932 [5: 30-Sep-1932]
In the Horse Events he came 2nd in the Gent's Hack, 2nd in the Ladies' Hack and 2nd in the Flag Race [5: 30-Sep-1932]
Attended the Card Party held in Three Springs at the home of Mr and Mrs A. E. SAGGERS on Monday 7 August 1933 [5: 11-Aug-1933]
Attended the House Party held at the home of Mr and Mrs E. SHEAHAN in Three Springs on Thursday 24 August 1933 [5: 25-Aug-1933]
Attended the 21st birthday of Gladys BASTIAN at her parents' home in Three Springs on Sunday 22 October 1933 [5: 27-Oct-1933]
South Lieutenant of the Three Springs Road Board District Bush Fire Brigade in 1933 [5: 3-Nov-1933]
Won a cushion by raffle at a Dance held in aid of the Arrino Hall Fund at the Arrino Hall on Thursday 5 July 1934 [5: 13-Jul-1934]
Attended the funeral of Mrs Christina B. D. FORRESTER of Carnamah at the Winchester Cemetery on 31 August 1934 [4: 8-Sep-1934]
Became a member of the Carnamah Masonic Lodge No.150 WAC on 8 February 1935 [96]
Won a raffle at the Carnamah Tennis Club's Flannel Dance held at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 30 March 1935 [5: 5-Apr-1935]
Pallbearer at the funeral of Edward James DUFFY on 1 June 1935 at the Three Springs Cemetery [4: 8-Jun-1935]
Won the 75 Yards Sprint at the Saint Patrick's Day Sports Meeting held in Three Springs on Tuesday 17 March 1936 [5: 20-Mar-1936]
Came 2nd in the Old Soldier's Handicap race at the R.S.L. Easter Sports Meeting in Carnamah on Monday 13 April 1936 [5: 17-Apr-1936]
Committee Member of the Three Springs Agricultural Society in 1936 [5: 1-May-1936]
Used three horses to haul a car out of a lake four miles south of Three Springs on Thursday morning 25 June 1936 [5: 3-Jul-1936]
Slippery roads as a result of wet weather had caused the car to slide over a culvert, off a bridge and drop eight foot into the lake [5]
Member of the Three Springs Rifle Club in 1936 [5: 21-Aug-1936]
Attended and competed at the Official Opening of the Three Springs Rifle Club's rifle range on Thursday 23 July 1936 [5: 31-Jul-1936]
Attended the Valedictory Social for Miss Rachel M. A. WALLACE in Three Springs on Tuesday 15 December 1936 [5: 24-Dec-1936]
After a holiday in the South West he and Mrs Minnie M. WATSON returned to Three Springs on 21 February 1937 [5: 26-Feb-1937]
He motored to Perth on Friday 4 June 1937 to receive medical attention [5: 11-Jun-1937]
Took part in the novelty procession to the opening of the Nurse's Quarters in Three Springs on Friday 27 August 1937 [5: 3-Sep-1937]
As Mum, Dad and Dave himself, Alfred HUNTER and Sydney P. HOWARD attended in a dilapidated and smoky vehicle [5]
In early 1938 he was suffering badly from a war disability and was advised to cease undertaking any strenuous work [4: 19-Feb-1938]
Under the circumstances his employer Mrs Minnie M. WATSON decided to relinquish her farming operations and shift to Perth [4]
He and Mrs WATSON were honoured at a Valedictory Evening at the Agricultural Hall in Three Springs on 15 February 1938 [4]
A great number of people attended from Mingenew, Yandanooka, Arrino, Three Springs, Carnamah and Coorow [4: 19-Feb-1938]
Numerous speakers spoke about the general regret felt throughout the community that they were both leaving the district [4]
It was said that it was believed that they had assisted and been members of just about every local effort and organisation [4]
Mention was made of how he had been a champion runner, and was probably the best runner Three Springs had ever seen [4]
It was also said the children of the district would miss him, as he had always been accustomed to speaking to them all [4]
At the conclusion of the speeches they were each presented with a travelling rug and a cheque as a memento of the occasion [4]
Left Three Springs in February 1938 [4: 19-Feb-1938]
Pallbearer at the funeral of TS farmer Albert Irwin Broad at the Karrakatta Cemetery in Perth on 6 September 1938 [4: 10-Sep-1938]
By 1941 both he and Mrs Minnie M. WATSON had returned to Three Springs [19]
She recommenced her farming operations and he recommenced managing her Moonlight Farm in Three Springs [P122]
Private in Three Springs' local Volunteer Defence Corps during the Second World War [16]
Managed and resided on Mrs Minnie M. WATSON's Moonlight Farm in Three Springs until her death in 1946 [P2]
Farmhand in Three Springs until 1952 [19]
Casket-bearer at the funeral of Mrs Fanny Jane BRIMSON of TS at the Three Springs Cemetery on 29 April 1946 [4: 4-May-1946]
Speaker at the Valedictory Social for stationmaster Herbert E. REYNOLDS in Three Springs during November 1949 [4: 19-Nov-1949]
Pallbearer at the funeral of ex-TS resident Charles Edward LUSCOMBE at the Karrakatta Cemetery in Perth in 1960 [4: 7-Oct-1960]
In 1963 was living at 1035 Beaufort Street in the Perth suburb of Inglewood [30: item 4375543]
Later resided in the Perth suburb of Wembley [2]
Died 14 May 1976; ashes dispersed at Karrakatta Cemetery in Perth, Western Australia [2]

ORIGINAL TEXT: Arthur Samuel Mortimer | Biographical Dictionary | Carnamah Historical Society & Museum.

Reference: Carnamah Historical Society & Museum and North Midlands Project, 'Arthur Samuel Mortimer' in Biographical Dictionary of Coorow, Carnamah and Three Springs, retrieved 18 August 2022 from www.carnamah.com.au/bio/arthur-samuel-mortimer.

WEB LINK: https://www.carnamah.com.au/bio/arthur-samuel-mortimer