VENN, Arthur Danks
| Service Number: | 47960 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 September 1914, 23rd Battalion Royal Fsiliers |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | Unspecified British Units |
| Born: | Kensington Park, South Australia , 9 June 1888 |
| Home Town: | Kensington Park, Burnside, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Oxford University, England |
| Occupation: | Student / Civil Servant |
| Died: | Killed In Action, Bois de Vallidart Eaucourt, France , 25 March 1918, aged 29 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Arras Memorial (Bay 3) |
| Memorials: | Rose Park Burnside & District - Fallen Soldiers Memorial Trees - Rose Park, Rose Park Burnside District Fallen Soldiers' Memorial - Rose Park |
World War 1 Service
| 1 Sep 1914: | Enlisted Private, 47960, Unspecified British Units, 23rd Battalion Royal Fsiliers | |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Mar 1918: | Involvement Sergeant, Unspecified British Units |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Steve Larkins
Arthur Danks VENN (1888-1918)
Arthur was born on July 9, 1888 at Kensington Park, South Australia, Arthur was the son of Andrew Harriot Charles VENN and Sarah nee WIGZELL of 15 Pembroke Street Kensington Park.
He was educated at Muirden College where he was a gold medalist. later travelled to the United Kingdom to study. He attended St.Katherine’s College, Oxford, England and was later employed as a Civil Servant.
He enlisted shortly after the outbreak of war in September, 1914. He was enlisted into 23rd (Service) Battalion of The Royal Fusiliers, an infantry Regiment of the British Army, over 200 years old. The 23rd and 24th (Service) Battalion, better known as the Sportsmen's Battalions, were raised in 1914, shortly after the outbreak of the war at the Strand Hotel in London They were part of what were known as the Pals Battalions and both became part of the 99th Brigade of the 33rd Division.
Arthur was serving as a Sergeant in early 1918 when at Euacort on March 25, 1918 he was reported as Missing in Action. According to the entry in 'All Australian Memorial South Australian Section p 11e, he was wounded at Eaucourt on 25 March 1918, and taken prisoner. This was the first day of the massive German Spring Offensive code-named Operation Michael, which brought about the near collapse of the British 5th Army. It was later accepted that his death occurred on or after March 25, 1918; specifically according to the All Australian Memorial, he succumbed to his wounds in captivity and was buried on 29 March 1918. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial to the Missing.
His mother, Sarah, lodged an inquiry with the Red Cross investigating the fate of the missing and wounded of the Western Front, and it was from letters in response held by the SA State Library, that much of this detail was extracted, and from the publication 'All Australian Memorial, SA Edition', pp11e. His image is recorded on the photo montage facing page.ponse and the 'All Australian Memorial' that these notes were compiled.
Compiled by Steve Larkins Dec 2020
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