Born at West Maitland, New South Wales, on the 4th of September 1897 to Frederick and Margaret (nee Hollingsworth), Arthur was the 2nd of their 4 children.
Working as a Shop Assistant in charge of the boot department at R.H. Harris’ general store at Gloucester, Arthur enlisted with the 7th Reinforcements, 18th Battalion at Newcastle on the 3rd of August 1915, aged 20 years and 9 months. He gave his nest of kin as his father of Lorn, West Maitland.
Having spent 4 years with the senior cadets, 1 of which was as a Lieutenant SC, after he enlisted he was made acting sergeant at Holsworthy and Newcastle, where he proved himself capable and efficient in the discharge of the duties of a non-commissioned officer. Before departure Arthur did go AWL from noon on the 11th until midnight on the 13th of December and was fined 10 shillings. The 7th Reinforcements embarked at Sydney aboard the ‘HMAT A29 Suevic’ on the 20th of December 1915 bound for Egypt. On arrival, Arthur returned to his rank of Private.
After the withdrawal from Gallipoli, the 3rd Battalion returned to Egypt where they were once again used in the defence of the Suez Canal against the Turks. The AIF undertook a period of reorganisation and expansion to spread battle experienced troops within the battalions during which time on the 14th of February, Aurther was transferred from the 18th Battalion to the ‘D’ Company, 3rd Battalion at Tel el Kabir. He was a tent-mate of the late Sergeant Frank Fry.
On the 22nd of March, the 3rd Battalion boarded the ‘HT Grampian’ at Alexandria and arrived at Marseilles on the 28th. After moving to the front the battalion had a period of acclimatisation where they undertook duties in a quiet sector of the line. In July 1916 the battalion took part in its first major action in Europe, during the Battle of Pozières.
The plan called for the Australian 1st Division to attack Pozières from the south, advancing in three stages half an hour apart, while north of the Albert–Bapaume road, the 48th (South Midland) Division (X Corps), would attack the German trenches west of the village.
The village and surrounding area was defended by elements of the German 117th Division. Early on the 22nd of July the Australian 9th Battalion attempted to improve its position by advancing up the O.G. Lines towards the road but was repulsed. Preparation for the attack involved a thorough bombardment of the village and the O.G. Lines lasting several days. The bombardment included phosgene and tear gas. The infantry were scheduled to attack at 12:30 a.m. on the 23rd, with the Australian 1st and 3rd Brigades. The infantry crept into no man’s land, close behind the bombardment and when it lifted the German trenches were rushed. The first stage took the Pozières trench that ringed the village to the south. Arthur was reported missing between the 22nd and 27th of July on the 28th of July. A report by the Director of Graves gave Arthur’s burial place as ‘close to the road from Contalmaison to Pozieres just S.E. of Pozieres. 3 ¾ miles from Albert. On the 9th of November a Court of Inquiry found Arther was ‘Killed in Action’ from a bomb blast on the 22/27th of July 1916, aged 18 years.
The Maitland Daily Mercury, Thursday 2 November 1916 reported that Mr. F. Wyborn, of Lorn, whose eldest son, Private Arthur Wyborn, was recently reported missing, is in receipt of a letter from Private J. D. Morrison, of D. Coy., 3rd Battalion, in which he refers to the loss of the gallant soldier.
“I cannot,” he writes, “express to you how sorry I am, especially as I owe my life to his bravery As you no doubt know now, he was reported missing on July 25, and I am sorry. I can not hold, out any hope for him, as I am afraid he met the same fate as hundreds of others, and was buried by a shell, from which it was impossible to extricate them. I would have written to you before this, only I have just recovered from my wounds. I, too, was wounded and buried the night before Arthur, and if it had not been for his bravery, and untiring efforts under awful shellfire I too would, have been reported missing, but he did not stop until he had dug me out, although he had been working and fighting without sleep for four days and nights. “I was more dead than alive when he got me out but if It had not been for him, I would certainly have died, so you can appreciate how keenly I feel his death.”
Personal effects returned to his father were: Balaclava, 2 Handkerchiefs, 6 Military Books, Guide Book, Devotional Book, Note Book, Photo.
A letter to Frederick dated the 25th of March 1925 from Base Records with photos of a temporary wooden cross in the Pozieres British Cemerery to members of the 3rd Battalion who fell in July 1916 that the Imperial War Graves Commission were erecting a permanent collective memorial where Arthur’s particulars would be displayed.
Awards: British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Cemetery: Pozieres British Cemetery, Plot No. 1, Row B.
Memorials: Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial) France;
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour;
Gloucester Memorial Clock Tower.
“Lest We Forget”
Biography contributed by Michael Silver (VWMA) & edited by Admin.