Name: Arthur Frederick Duke
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Date of birth: c. 1894
Place of birth: Banyena, Victoria
Link to Wagga: Hometown
Date of enlistment: November 1, 1916
Age at enlistment: 22 years 6 months
Occupation: Farmer
Religion: Church of England
Next of kin: Father, Arthur Duke, Gregadoo Road, Wagga
Battalion or Regiment: 22nd Howitzer Brigade, 11th Reinforcements 4th Divisional Ammunition Column
Outcome: Died at sea, June 9, 1917
ARTHUR Frederick Duke was one of three sons born to Arthur Osmond and his first wife
Eleanor Jane (nee Bradley).
Arthur Osmond was born in Sussex, England, but moved to Wagga with his family in 1907, when he acquired the properties ‘Mt Austin’, ‘Cheviot Hills’ and ‘Arundel Farm’.
Arthur (Junior) was a farmer by occupation, most probably working with his family on
their property, like his brother Reginald Herbert, who also enlisted during the war.
Enlisting on November 1, 1916, Arthur underwent training at Warren Camp,
Marrickville, and initially held the rank of Gunner with the 22nd Howitzer’s, 11th
Reinforcements, before becoming a Driver with the 4th Division Ammunition Column
(DAC).
Embarking from Melbourne aboard HMAT A9 ‘Shropshire’ on May 11, 1917, with the
Field Artillery Brigade, February 1917 Reinforcements, Arthur was tragically killed in
an accident at sea less than a month later.
One of his comrades, Driver Jack Dobson Sellars kept a diary, and his entry for Saturday 9 June 1917 reads:
Sea rough, storm still going, rather showery. Boxing tournament was to start
at 3 p.m. but General postponed it at 2.45 p.m. owing to one of our comrades
just passing away as the result of falling down stairs in Sgts Mess the night
before: Bdr. Duke from N.S.W. Artillery. The sad occurrence cast a gloom over
all hands.
On the following day, he records Arthur’s funeral:
Sea still rough, also weather, plenty of rain. Bdr. Duke committed to deep at 8
a.m. during breakfast.
Following a Court of Inquiry held on June 10, 1917, it was decided that Arthur’s death
was the result of a concussion of the brain and fracture of the base of skull,
accidental, sustained from a fall down a companion ladder on the evening of June 8.
The weather leaving Fremantle was rough, and the stairs were probably
slippery, especially for men that were not accustomed to being at sea.
A full inventory of Arthur’s possessions was taken after his death, and provides an
insight into what was carried by the men sailing to the Front.
His military equipment comprised:
1 pair boots
2 underpants
2 tunics (with badges – 4 Australias and 4 collar badges)
2 breeches
1 flannel shirt
1 greatcoat and 2 straps
2 trousers – dungaree
2 jackets – dungaree
1 pair spurs
1 hat: badge and strap
1 kit bag
1 sea kit bag
1 jacket – cardigan
1 water bottle and carrier
Field dressing
1 pair leggings
1 haversack
1 shaving brush
1 bandolier
1 Mess tin, mess tin cover and strap
1 clasp knife and lanyard
1 cap – service dress: badge and strap
1 identity disc
Arthur’s personal possessions – including 28 handkerchiefs, four silk shirts,three
abdominal belts, one knitted singlet, mirror, soap tin, three tins boot polish, cigarettes, a
parcel of books, letters, photos and postcards from home, a folding drinking cup and
a wallet containing 3 ¼ d. was also returned to his family.
Of the two Duke boys who enlisted, neither returned home.