Grimwade, Arthur John
6240 Private Arthur John Grimwade - 32nd Battalion AIF
Arthur John Grimwade was born on the 1st February 1883 in Great Stambridge Rochford Essex England to John and Eliza Grimwade. He had five siblings, with, Alice 1881. Florence 1885, Bertie 1886, Frederick 1888 and Francis 1891.
The 1891 English census shows that Arthur was a 8 year old student living with his family in Rochford. The 1901 census has Arthur still living in Rochford, being 18 years old.
In 1906 his mother Eliza died and his father re-married in 1908 to Bertha Wylie though sadly their only child Eric (and Arthur's step brother) died shortly after birth in 1911.
On the 4th August 1907 Arthur got married to Ellen Louisa Robins at St Laurence and All Saints Eastwood Essex England. They had a daughter Elise born in 1908, Ivy in 1910.
On the 24th December 1912 they left England and proceeded to Australia, arriving in Fremantle in early 1913.
A son Arthur was born in Fremantle in 1914, followed by Albert in 1916 in Fremantle. The family had taken up residence at 7 Samson Street Fremantle.
Arthur was working in Grass Valley as a Fettler prior to his enlistment.
On the 26th February 1916 Arthur enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was passed as fit for enlistment with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 6 & 1/2 inches tall
Weight - 135lbs;
Chest Measurement - 34-38 inches;
Complexion - Fresh;
Eyes - Grey;
Hair - Dark Brown.
After his successful enlistment Arthur was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to No.57 Training Depot. He spent three weeks here being taken through the basics of infantry work and on the 18th April 1916 he was transferred to the 20th Reinforcements to the 16th Battalion AIF.
Arthur trained with this group in WA for the next five months. They then received their embarkation orders and on the 10th October 1916 they entrained for Fremantle Harbour where they boarded the transport ship HMAT Suffolk. This ship then set sail for England, disembarking at Plymouth on the 2nd December 1916.
After being disembarked, Arthur was sent to the 4th Training Battalion and he would train there for the next three months. On the 1st March 1917 Arthur proceeded across to France and was sent to the 4th Australian Division Base Depot at Etaples. Arthur spent the next four weeks here and instead of joining the 16th Battalion he was re-assigned to the 32nd Battalion AIF.
Arthur was taken on strength of the 32nd Battalion on the 29th March 1917. The Battalion was then near Bapaume and the following month would be in action at Bullecourt in May 1917. Arthur came through this action unscathed and in June 1917 the 32nd Battalion was given a three month rest period out of the front line. Much of this time was taken up with training and sporting activities.
In September 1917 the 32nd Battalion made their way to Belgium where they would take part in the Third Battle of Ypres. Arthur saw action at Polygon Wood, Broodseinde Ridge and Zonnebeke. He came through these actions safely but on the 23rd October 1917 was evacuated as he was suffering from bronchitis.
After a few days at the 14th General Hospital at Wimereux, Arthur was shipped to England. Upon arrival he was admitted to Barrington War Hospital in Shrewsbury. Arthur remained there till the 15th November and was then transferred to No.3 Command Depot Camp at Hurdcott. Arthur would remain here for the next few months while he regained his health and fitness.
On the 25th January 1918 Arthur was then transferred to the Overseas Training Brigade Camp at Longbridge Deverell. He had a few more weeks there and then on the 14th February 1918 returned to France.
Arthur was taken back on strength of the 32nd Battalion on the 23rd February 1918.
The 5th Division were then holding the front line positions between Messines and Ypres.
On the 21st March 1918, the Germans launched their long awaited offensive. This broke through the British front further south, and so the Australian divisions were sent to the Somme to help stop the German advance.
In April 1918 the 32nd Battalion were sent south to Grevilliers and then Bancourt then moving further south to Haplincourt.
The 32nd Battalion went to an area near Hamelet and then took up part of the front line. Either side of them in April 1918 were large attacks at Dernancourt and Villers-Bretonneux, however their front remained quiet. In May 1918 the 32nd Battalion were at Vaux sur Somme. The 32nd Battalion remained near the Somme and Villers-Bretonneux through to July 1918.
On the 31st July 1918 the 32nd Battalion captured an important German position known as the brick beacon. It was an important feature to capture as it overlooked part of the line behind the Australians.
On August 8th 1918 the large advance on the Villers-Bretonneux front began and the 32nd Battalion successfully captured their objectives. On the 13th August 1918 Arthur was evacuated ill with bronchitis and was sent to the 18th General Hospital at Camiers. He spent a few weeks here and was then sent to a convalescent camp to recover his health.
On the 4th October 1918 Arthur rejoined the 32nd Battalion. By this time the 32nd Battalion was out of the line resting and the Armistice was announced on the 11th November 1918 before they could return to the front line.
After the Germans had withdrawn to behind their own borders, the Australians were sent into what had been German occupied parts of Belgium and France. They would remain here through to 1919.
On the 11th January 1919 Arthur was given a months leave to England, before returning to France on the 13th February 1919. He then remained with the 32nd Battalion up till the 2nd April 1919. He was then sent to the Base Depot Camp at Le Havre, and after a week was returned to England.
Arthur was then sent to No.2 Command Depot Camp at Weymouth where he would wait to be assigned a berth on a troopship home. On the 1st June 1919 Arthur boarded the transport ship Somali and set sail for home, reaching Fremantle on the 8th July 1919.
Arthur was discharged from the AIF on the 17th August 1919.He then returned to his family and resided at Hope Street in Palmyra.
The family then moved to the Country and another son Charles was born in 1922 in Northam. They then moved to Kellerberrin and during this time Arthur was still working as a Fettler.
The family moved to South Australia in the 1930's at Boothby then Mitcham.
Arthur died on the 30th January 1959 in Adelaide SA. He was buried at Centennial Park Cemetery Adelaide