Cogdell, Arthur George

No.2120 – Corporal Arthur George Cogdell – 11^th Battalion AIF

Arthur George Cogdell was born at Parkes New South Wales in 1889 to Alfred & Sarah Cogdell. The family moved across to Western Australia and took up residence at Kalgoorlie where Arthur attended school and later served in the militia.

In 1911 in Boulder, he married Nora Pimblett and with his wife moved to Fremantle in 1912 where they initially resided at Alexandra Road, though they soon moved to 14 Swan St North Fremantle. At this time he was working as a Machinist.

On the 9^th March 1915, Arthur offered his services to the AIF and was passed as fit. The medical examiner found Arthur to be 5 feet 9 ½ inches in height; weight of 159 lbs; chest measurement of 35-37 inches; fresh complexion; grey eyes and dark hair.

Initially allotted to No.14 Depot, Arthur was then assigned to the 6^th Reinforcements to the 11^th Battalion. He trained in WA with this group until June 1915 when they embarked from Fremantle aboard the H.M.A.T. “Geelong”. They reached Egypt in July where they had a few more weeks training but it was not long before they were embarked at Alexandria bound for Gallipoli. On the 4^th August 1915 Arthur was taken on strength of the 11^th Battalion at Gallipoli and would have been involved in the actions to hold Leane’s Post. He served with the 11^th until the end of the Gallipoli campaign and returned with them to Egypt in January 1916. After their arrival back in camp Arthur was promoted to Lance Corporal and on the 1^st March 1916 was made Corporal. The 11^th Battalion trained in Egypt until near the end of March 1916. On the 29^th March they left Alexandria bound for France. Arriving at Marseilles on the 5^th April 1916, the 11^th Battalion were sent north to the region around Armentieres. They went into the line near Fleurbaix and served in the trenches in this region for the next few months. On the 29^th/30^th May 1916 the 11^th Battalion were on the receiving end of a German trench raid and it was a successful one for the Germans as the artillery fire inflicted heavy casualties. Arthur was seriously wounded and died before medical help could be given. He was buried in Rue Petillon Military Cemetery by Reverand W.K. Douglas alongside all the other 11^th Battalion casualties of the trench raid.

His wife Norah, and daughters Elsie & Daphne would receive pensions after Arthur’s death. In the early 1920’s Nora seems to have gone to live in Melbourne and her children remained with her mother-in-law Mrs. Pimblett in Attfield St Fremantle.