Arthur, Thomas Elsbury

5547 Corporal Thomas Elsbury Arthur – 28^th Battalion AIF

Thomas Elsbury Arthur was born in Castlemaine Victoria in 1874 to John and Elizabeth Arthur. He went to State School in Ballarat and began work in the mining district. He later moved to Western Australia and married Eva Sutcliffe in Kalgoorlie in 1901. They lived for a time in the Goldfields, and in 1903 were listed living in Coolgardie. In 1906 a daughter Evan was born in Boulder before the family moved to Denmark and Albany circa 1910 and later to Fremantle. Prior to his enlisting John was working as an Engine Driver for Western Australian Railways.

Thomas enlisted on the 10^th of March 1916 in Fremantle where the medical examiner found Thomas to be 5 feet 8 ½ inches in height; weighing 174 lbs; chest measurement of 37-41 inches; dark complexion; grey eyes and light brown hair. His religious denomination was Church of England.

Sent to Blackboy Hill Camp, Thomas was sent to form part of the 19^th Reinforcements to the 11^th Battalion, then transferred to No.67 Depot as an Acting Corporal, then attached to the 4^th Reinforcements to the 44^th Battalion. He was once again pulled out of this group and finally attached to the 15^th Reinforcements to the 28^th Battalion. With this group he left Fremantle on the 22^nd September 1916 aboard the “Surada”.

After their arrival in England this group was sent to the 7^th Training Battalion on Salisbury Plains. On the 22^nd November 1916 Thomas was admitted to Fovant Military Hospital. His condition slowly deteriorated, and he died on the 2^nd December 1916, the official cause being jaundice. He is buried at Fovant Churchyard.