NUGENT, Arthur Caldwell
| Service Number: | 1964 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 26 April 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 13th Light Horse Regiment |
| Born: | Cudgewa, Victoria, Australia, 1895 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Blacksmith |
| Died: | Wodonga, Victoria, Australia, 29 September 1972, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Wodonga Cemetery, Victoria |
| Memorials: | Corryong Wabba & Berringama Districts Pictorial Honour Roll, Loyal Corryong Lodge Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 26 Apr 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1964, Australian Veterinary Hospital | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Oct 1916: | Involvement Private, 1964, 13th Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '3' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Borda embarkation_ship_number: A30 public_note: '' | |
| 20 Oct 1916: | Embarked Private, 1964, 13th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Borda, Melbourne |
Arthur Nugent
Arthur Caldwell Nugent was born on 1 January, 1896, at Cudgewa, Victoria. At the time of his birth his father, James (1861 to 1935), was 34 and his mother, Sophia, nee Hamilton (1863 to 1950), was 32. Arthur would have five brothers and three sisters. Their names were George (1888 to 1916), James Stanley (1890 to 1968), William John (1891 to 1954), Mary Jane (1893 to 1971), Elsie (1896 to 1988), Percival Herbert (1898 to 1918), Mabel (1901 to 1977) and Elliot (1903 to 1973).
All of Arthur’s brothers, except Elliot, would enlist during World War 1. Two of them, Percy and George, would not return home.
At the time of enlisting at Tallangatta on the 26 April, 1916, Arthur was a single, 21-year-old blacksmith from Berringama, Victoria. He was given the service number 1964 and was put on strength with the 12th Reinforcements for the 13th Light Horse.
His enlistment details describe him as 5 foot 9 inches tall (175 cm) and weighed 154 lbs (70 kg). His complexion was given as dark, eyes brown and hair black. Arthur’s religious denomination was given as Church of England.
Arthur Caldwell embarked on HMAT A30 Borda on the 20 October, 1916, sailing from Melbourne, Victoria. He would eventually disembark at Plymouth in England on the 9 January, 1917. The 13th Light Horse had become the Divisional cavalry and it was here that he was transferred to on the 9 April, 1917. It would be another 3 months before Arthur would step foot in France as he was admitted to the Bulford Hospital with scabies.
His skills as a blacksmith were clearly noted as he was transferred to the Australian Army Veterinary Corp in Calais, France and, on the 4 September, 1917, promoted to Shoeing Sergeant. One more transfer in May of 1918 would see him moved to the 1st Mobile Veterinary Section.
The August 1918, War Diary for the 1st Mobile Veterinary Section provides a snapshot of their work;
Cases remaining from July - 5
Admitted since - 206
Total - 211
Returned cured to units - 19
Evacuated sick - 169
Died - 2
Destroyed - 6
Remaining - 15
On the 6 July, 1919, Arthur embarked on the Boorata, returning to Australia some weeks later. He was finally discharged from the AIF on the 10 October, 1919. For his service during the war, he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Records indicate that Arthur married Edith Nellie Jeffecott (1894 to 1981) on 24 February, 1925, in Albury, NSW. It is not known whether they had any children. Arthur passed away on the 29 September, 1972, at Woodend, Victoria and was buried at Wodonga, Victoria.
Extract from "Light Horsemen of the Upper Murray", Year 5 and 6 Project, Corryong College.
Submitted 20 April 2019 by Stephen Learmonth