DENT, Arthur Ernest
| Service Numbers: | Officer, N17426 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 23 June 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Last Unit: | 1st Movement Control Group |
| Born: | Elsternwick, Victoria, Australia, 13 September 1894 |
| Home Town: | Gosford, Gosford Shire, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Dubbo Superior School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Shire Clerk |
| Memorials: | Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Campbell Australian War Memorial Officers of the 19th Battalion Pictorial Honour Roll, Orange Officers of the 19th Battalion Pictorial Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 23 Jun 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, Officer, 19th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Jun 1915: | Involvement Lieutenant, 19th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: '' | |
| 25 Jun 1915: | Embarked Lieutenant, 19th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ceramic, Melbourne |
World War 2 Service
| 18 Sep 1939: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Lieutenant Colonel, N17426 | |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Sep 1943: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Lieutenant Colonel, N17426, 1st Movement Control Group |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of Walter John Dent, Hill Street, Gosford, New South Wales
When nine months old his parents came to Sydney and resided at Balmaln for a time, and later departed to the western districts or N.S.W, living at Dubbo, Gilgandra and Peak Hill, respectively, where the editor of this paper (The North Western Courier) saw him grow from a little boy to a fine stamp of young Australian. In June, 1911, he came to Gosford, and was engaged in clerical duties by the late Mr. F. Cox, who retained his services until he disposed of his business to Messrs Chapman and Son. By this time Lieut Dent had acquired a liking for Local Government work, and entered the Erina Shire Office, where he carried on the duties of clerk until the present war broke out Under the Defence Act he became a member of the Citizen Forces, and, being ambitious in military matters, was not long in passing examinations which entitled him to the rank of Second Lieutenant He did duty in the Mobilisation Camps at Newcastle and Liverpool, and also at the German Conceptratlon Camp. He left Australia for Egypt in the troopship Ceramic, on the 25th June, last year, and celebrated his 21st birthday In the trenches at Galllpoll. After the evacuation he went to France and took part in the battle of Pozieres, in which he had a close call, being hit on the helmet on two occasions. Since being at the front he had been promoted to First Lieutenant, and at the time of his (falsley reported) death was due for further promotion. As a military officer, Lieut Dent was most popular with his men, and as a civilian was a valued and courteous member of the community.
Arthur was falsley reported as killed in action when infact he had been taken prisoner of war in Germany, captured on 14 November 1916 at Fleurs France. After being in various hospitals he was sent to Augustabad Camp. Early in December 1917 he was transferred to Heidelberg Camp to come before a Swiss Commission. He was examined by them, and after three weeks in Heidelberg was interned in Switzerland, arriving ther on 28th December 1917. On 22nd May 1918 he was examined by the Repatriation Board, passed and sent to England, arriving on the 14th June 1918.
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