AN UNSUNG HERO
Charles Arblaster - 53rd Battalion

Charles Arblaster was born at Pennyroyal, Victoria , on 27 February 1895 and educated at Inglewood State School and then at Melbourne High School . He was one of the young graduates of the Royal Military College , Duntroon, and was appointed a lieutenant on 2 nd October 1914 . Like so many of his generation, he did not survive the war and so his potential as a leader was never realised. Maybe he would have been one of Australia 's senior officers in the Second World War.

In November 1914, Arblaster enlisted in the AIF at Broadmeadows and was posted as a lieutenant to 8 Light Horse Regiment, part of 3 Light Horse Brigade. Initially placed in charge of a troop, he was almost immediately transferred to the command of the regiment's machine gun section.

After a period of training, the regiment embarked for overseas service at Melbourne on 25th February 1915 , aboard HMAT A16 Star of Victoria . Training continued in Egypt , until the regiment sailed for Gallipoli landing there in late May. Arblaster served with the regiment at Walker 's Ridge in June and July, and his section supported it, during the charge at the Nek on 7th August. He then acted as adjutant until 7th September, when he was appointed acting captain and placed in overall command of the brigade machine guns at the Table Top, immediately below Chunuk Bair. He was wounded – a GSW in his left foot on 26th September - and was evacuated to Malta on the Hospital Ship Gloucester Castle , and then to England (arriving on 29 th October) for treatment at 3 rd London General Hospital at Wandsworth.

Charles Arblaster was discharged from hospital in December and returned via Weymouth to Egypt in February 1916, where he briefly rejoined his regiment, before being promoted to captain and transferred to command D Company of the newly formed 53rd Btn in March. The battalion moved to France for service on the Western Front, arriving there on 27th June.

Arblaster wa s severely wounded in the fighting at Fromelles on 19/ 20 th July 1916 and was captured by the Germans. He was taken to St Clothilde Military Hospital near Douai but died there of septicaemia on 24th July, at the age of 21. He is buried in Douai Communal Cemetery (Grave D6

Photos:

1) Drawing of Charles Arblaster. Image courtesy Paul Cobb, may not be reproduced without permission.

2) Charles Arblaster's death plaque held by AWM. REL06480

Thank you to Paul Cobb who wrote this memorial.