Arthur James Offord
Regimental number: 713 Rank: Corporal
Killed in Action (KIA) 5 August 1916
Arthur James Offord was born in 1895 in Leyton Essex England to George and Mary Offord. He migrated to Australia in 1914 and went to live with his brother Thomas at Riding Road, Bulimba.
Arthur was a carpenter when he enlisted in Brisbane on 12 February 1915 aged 19 years. He embarked from Brisbane on the “HMAT Aeneas”A60 on 29 June 1915 as a Private in the 25th Battalion. From t4 September 1915 he was serving on the Gallipoli Peninsula. Arthur was promoted to Lance Corporal on 29 October 1915. After serving at Gallipoli, he was sent on to France in March 1916, where he was promoted to Corporal. On 6 August 1916 he was reported missing. After a court of inquiry in 1917 his status was changed to “Killed in Action” on 5 August 1916. Private Salter reported: “At Pozieres going over the 1st German line I saw him fall as if mortally wounded”.
Arthur was entitled to the 1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal and Victory Medal. A Memorial Scroll, Memorial Plaque and his medals were sent to his father. Arthur was buried in Courcelette British Cemetery, Picardie in France.
A package containing Arthur’s military discs was sent to his father in England in November 1917. The listed contents of the package included: belt, badges, buttons, battalion colours, purse, 3 coins, mitten, postcards, 4 books, scarf, and a prayer book. In 1918, the Public Curator in Brisbane administered 20 year old Arthur’s estate.
