Eastburn, Arthur Robinson

No.3892 – Private Arthur Robinson Eastburn MM – 16^th Battalion AIF

Arthur Robinson Eastburn was born in Melbourne Victoria in 1895 to Thomas and Elizabeth Eastburn. He was one of three children and attended Eastern Road State School in East Melbourne. However the family moved across to Western Australia where they took up residence at 159 Mandurah Road South Fremantle. Arthur became a member of the Fremantle Company of the 86A Citizen Forces. Just prior to the war he went to Menzies where he worked as a miner and labourer.

On the 19^th August 1915 Arthur went to the Perth Drill Hall and offered his services to the AIF. He was passed as fit with the medical examiner finding him to be 5 feet 6 ¼ inches tall; weight of 132 lbs; chest measurement of 32-35 inches, tan complexion, light brown eyes and brown hair. His religious denomination was Church of England. Initially allotted to No.95 Depot, on the 16^th October 1915 Arthur was assigned to the 12^th Reinforcements to the 16^th Battalion. He trained with this group in WA until the 17^th December 1915 when they embarked from Fremantle Harbour on the H.M.A.T. “Ajana”.

After arriving in Egypt Arthur was sent to the AIF Infantry Depot and it wasn’t until the 7^th March 1916 that he was taken on strength of the 16^th Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir camp. He trained with them in the desert for the next few months during which time he did get into trouble for overstaying his leave and also for gambling in camp. For his first offence Major Margolin awarded him 2 days of Field Punishment No.2 and for the gambling he was given 28 days of Field Punishment No.2.

However it was soon time for the 16^th Battalion to leave Egypt and on the 1^st June 1916 they sailed from Alexandria aboard the H.M.T. “Canada”, arriving at Marseilles on the 9^th June. After disembarking they were put onto trains and sent to the north of France and were put into the line near Fleurbaix. They only spent a couple of weeks in this region before they were sent south to the Somme battle. Arthur survived the 16^th Battalion’s actions at Pozieres and Mouquet Farm and came through the rest of 1916 unscathed.

On the 22^nd February 1917 he was again in trouble for failing to comply with an order and was given 14 days of Field Punishment No.2 by Major Margolin. At this time the Germans had begun to withdraw from their positions to their defensive position known as the Hindenburg Line. In April the 16^th Battalion were to assault this line at Bullecourt. However Arthur missed this battle as he had reported sick on April 2^nd. He was sent to the 4^th Field Ambulance and then out to the 51^st General Hospital at Etaples where it was diagnosed he was suffering from venereal disease. Arthur spent the required 45 days in hospital and then transferred to the 4^th Australian Division Base Depot. While at the Depot he got into trouble for being in Etaples without a pass and as a punishment had to forfeit two days pay. On the 25^th May 1917 he rejoined the 16^th Battalion.

The 16^th Battalion were about to take part in the Messines action though on the 1^st June Arthur was admitted to hospital with a recurrence of the VD. He was sent to the 39^th General Hospital at Le Havre and after 20 days in hospital was sent to rejoin his unit, which he reached on the 27^th June 1917. The 16^th Battalion had just relieved a New Zealand unit in the Ploegsteert sector. Three days after reaching the 16^th, Arthur was wounded by shrapnel in his abdomen and left arm. He was evacuated back to No.13 General Hospital at Boulogne where his wound was assessed and he was marked down for ‘Blighty’.

After arriving in England; Arthur was sent to No.1 Eastern General Hospital at Cambridge where he spent about seven weeks. On the 16^th August 1916 he was transferred to No.3 Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford. Arthur was then given a furlough period until the 31^st August, when he was ordered to report to the AIF Depot at Perham Downs Camp. However Arthur reported on the 1^st September and as a punishment was given 3 days of confined to camp.

Arthur was soon again in trouble again for going absent without leave for a period while in camp and for also urinating in the lines at camp. He was given 10 days of Field Punishment No.2 for the first offence and had to forfeit 14 days pay for the 2^nd offence. After spending a few more weeks at the Overseas Training Brigade at Perham Downs Camp, Arthur was sent across to France, where he arrived at the 4^th Australian Division Base Depot at Etaples on the 26^th September 1917. Arthur spent a few weeks here and was taken on strength of the 16^th Battalion on the 24^th October 1917. Arthur had missed the Third Ypres battles but continued to hold the lines in the Passchendaele and Messines sector through the winter of 1917/18.

On the 6^th March 1918 Arthur was granted leave to Paris and returned to the 16^th on the 13^th March. Arthur was charged for being drunk while on active service and had to forfeit 14 days pay.

On the 21^st March 1918 the Germans launched their spring offensive which broke through the Third and Fifth British Armies. The Germans made large gains and had captured much territory in a few days that it had taken the British Armies the last few years to gain. The Australian divisions were pulled out of the Messines sector and sent south to the Somme. The 4^th Division were one of the first to be sent and the 4^th Brigade was tasked with stopping the Germans at Hebuterne. Along with the New Zealanders they stopped the German advance in this sector and also began to push them back. On the 29^th March Arthur was wounded but remained on duty. On the 5^th April Arthur was awarded the Military Medal for his bravery. The official recommendation reads;

“This man is brought to notice for his very excellent work and gallantry on the 5^th April 1918 when the enemy delivered a very heavy attack against the position occupied by the battalion near Hebuterne. During the preliminary bombardment which preceded the attack on three separate occasions he went through the enemy’s intense barrages with communications for Battalion Headquarters. He showed a total disregard for his own safety and seemed obsessed solely with the idea of getting his despatches through. He is recommended for distinction.”

In late April the 16^th Battalion moved down to the Villers-Bretonneux sector where they would spend the next few months. On the 24^th June 1918 Arthur was killed by a shell when he was about to lead a fatigue party in the vicinity of Hamel. Sgt Spratley of Fremantle was killed by the same shell. Arthur was taken back and buried in Corbie Communal Cemetery where he still lies in Plot II.F.21.

His mother would receive his Military Medal and personal affects.