Scorer, Arthur
533 Private Arthur Scorer - 28th Battalion AIF
Arthur Scorer was born in NSW in 1891 to Henry and Frances Scorer. He had a brother called Henry born in 1879 and Percival in 1887.
The family moved to Western Australia in the early 1900's and took up residence in High Street Fremantle. After completing his education Arthur took up a bakery apprenticeship with G Mitchell of Fremantle which was of four years duration. After this four years was completed, Arthur qualified as a Baker.
On the 11th January 1915 Arthur enlisted into the AIF. He was found to be fit for enlistment with the medical examiner recording Arthur's physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 8 inches tall;
Weight - 146lbs;
Chest Measurement - 36-39 inches;
Complexion - Fair;
Eyes - Blue;
Hair - Brown.
Upon his successful enlistment Arthur was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to the Depot Training Company. He spent a month undergoing basic infantry training here and on the 16th February 1915 was sent to the 4th Reinforcements to the 11th Battalion. However on the 9th April 1915 he was transferred to "C" Company of the newly forming 28th Battalion AIF.
On the 9th June 1915 the 28th Battalion departed from Fremantle Harbour aboard the transport ship HMAT Ascanius. The journey to Egypt took over three weeks and after being disembarked went into camp near Cairo.
On the 4th September 1915 the 28th Battalion arrived at Gallipoli. Arthur had a month on the battlefield but on the 4th October 1915 he was evacuated ill with tonsilitis. He was shipped to hospital at Gibraltar and in November 1915 was sent to hospital in England. He was admitted to a military hospital in Bristol and remained there for the rest of the year.
In January 1916 he returned to Egypt and was taken back on strength of the 28th Battalion.
On the 16th March 1916 the 28th Battalion left Alexandria Egypt on a troopship and set sail to France, arriving at Marseilles on the 21st March 1916.
After arriving at Marseilles, the men were entrained north, arriving in the Armentieres sector. They would spend the next few months around Bois Greiner and Fleurbaix.
In July 1916 the 28th Battalion, as part of the 2nd Australian Division, headed to the Somme battlefield where they would take part in the action around Pozieres village.
Arthur came through the 28th Battalion's first action on 29th July 1916 safely, though on the 5th August 1916 when the windmill position at Pozieres was captured, Arthur was shot in the knee.
He was treated at the 4th Field Ambulance and from there was sent to the 3rd Casualty Clearing Station. After further treatment Arthur was sent to England where he was admitted to Edmonton Military Hospital.
On the 3rd November 1916 Arthur was transferred to No.2 Australian Auxiliary Hospital and was then sent to No.2 Command Depot Camp at Weymouth.
Arthur was kept in England while the injury to his knee was assessed and he was not yet at a fitness level to return to action. He remained on the camp roster at No.2 Command Depot for the remainder of the war.
In March 1918 in Weymouth England he married 21 year old Nora Evelyn Bushrod and a son Arthur Percival was born in 1918.
Arthur and his family retuned to Australia aboard the transport ship Kongin Louise on the 21st June 1919. He disembarked in Fremantle on the 3rd August 1919.
He was discharged from the AIF on the 2nd October 1919.
After their return to Australia, further children followed, Henry in 1921, Eric in 1929 and Regina in 1933.
On his return in 1919 the family lived at 465 High Street and Arthur returned to his pre war career of baker.
By 1922 the family had moved to Jackson St in North Fremantle before returning to East Fremantle in1929, living on the corner of holland and wood street.
They lived at 67 Holland Street until 1958
Arthur died on the 8th August 1961 aged 69 and was buried at Fremantle Cemetery Plot ANGLICAN MON A6 0331.