Name
Arthur Henry Poole
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
22/05/1918
44
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
7784
Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
12th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ST. ALBANS (HATFIELD ROAD) CEMETERY
Mil. C. 5.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the St Albans memorials (*1)
Biography
Arthur George Poole was born at Deloraine, Tasmania on 8th June, 1870 to parents John & Mary Ann Poole (nee Bennett). John Poole was recorded on the Birth Register as a Publican.
Mary Ann Poole died on 7th April, 1873 at Deloraine, Tasmania, aged 22. Arthur Poole attended Horton College, Ross, Tasmania.
Arthur Henry Poole married Eva Frances Rockliff on 31st March, 1897 at Sassafras Baptist Church, Latrobe / Mersey, Tasmania. They had the following children – John Francis Clifford Poole (born 1897); Arthur Clarence Poole (born 1899); Edna Poole (born 1900); Eric Poole (born 1903) & Reginald Thornton Poole (born 1910).
Arthur Henry Poole was a 44 year old, married (with 2 children), Farmer from Somerset, Tasmania when he enlisted on 13th June, 1917 at Burnie, Tasmania with the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.). His religion was Church of England & his next of kin was listed as his wife – Mrs E. Poole, Somerset, Tasmania. Arthur Poole stated on his Attestation Papers that he had previously been rejected as unfit for His Majesty’s Service due to a Hernia.
Private Arthur Henry Poole, Service number 7784, embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on HMAT Themistocles (A32) on 4th August, 1917 with the 12th Infantry Battalion, 26th Reinforcements, He was admitted to Ship’s Hospital on 10th September, 1917 & discharged on 16th September, 1917 suffering from Anaemia (Influenza was recorded but crossed out). Private Poole disembarked at Glasgow, Scotland on 2nd October, 1917.
Reinforcements were only given basic training in Australia. Training was completed in training units in England. Some of these were located in the Salisbury Plain & surrounding areas in the county of Wiltshire.
Private Arthur Henry Poole was marched in to 3rd Training Battalion, Durrington, Wiltshire on 3rd October, 1917 from Australia.
Private Arthur Henry Poole reported sick on 26th October, 1917 to Sutton Veny Hospital, Wiltshire with C.S.M. (Cerebro Spinal Meningitis). He was admitted to Sutton Veny Military Hospital on 27th October, 1917 with Cerebro Spinal Fever (Note: Hospital recorded on Admissions form is Salisbury Isolation. The date of discharge was not recorded on Casualty Form – Active Service, however the Hospital Admissions form recorded he was discharged / transferred on 28th April, 1918).
Private Arthur Henry Poole was marched out from 3rd Training Battalion on 7th November, 1917 & marched in to 1st Training Battalion on 8th November, 1917.
Base Records advised Mrs E. Poole, Somerset, Tasmania, on 22nd November, 1917 that Private A. H. Poole had been admitted on 27th October, 1917 to Sutton Veny Hospital, suffering from Cerebro Spinal Fever.
A Hospital Admissions form (separate form with no other admissions) recorded that Private Arthur H. Poole was admitted to Military Hospital, Sutton Veny, Wiltshire on 27th April, 1918 with Internal Hydrocephalus Lepto ____itis. “Patient has complete incontinence of urine. Thinks he is in Australia. Cannot tell month or day of week. Pupils react to light & distance. No inequality. Knee jerks exaggerated. R. Ankle – clonus”. He was discharged / transferred on 3rd May, 1918. (Note: this admission is not recorded on Casualty Form – Active Service) (The combined Hospital admissions form recorded that Private Poole was admitted to Military Hospital at Sutton Veny on 28th April, 1918 with Delusional Insanity from Salisbury Isolation Hospital).
Private Arthur Henry Poole was admitted to County of Middlesex War Hospital, Napsbury, England on 21st May, 1918 – N.Y.D. (not yet determined) & was reported as dangerously ill. (The Hospital Admissions form recorded he was admitted on 3rd May, 1918 to The County of Middlesex War Hospital with Internal Hydrocephalus from Military Hospital, Sutton Veny) The remarks recorded “Increasing mental dulness (?): bed-ridden & having to be looked after in every way. Occasional attacks of vomiting. Progressive enfeeblement mentally & physically.”
12th Battalion
The 12th Battalion was among the first infantry units raised for the AIF during the First World War. Half of the battalion was recruited in Tasmania, a quarter was recruited in South Australia, and a quarter from Western Australia. With the 9th, 10th and 11th Battalions it formed the 3rd Brigade.....
(Extract of Battalion information from the Australian War Memorial)
Private Arthur Henry Poole died at 12.55 pm on 22nd May, 1918 at County of Middlesex War Hospital, Napsbury, St. Albans, England from 1. Cerebro Spinal Meningitis 2. Chronic Internal Hydroceph abscess (cause of death determined after a Post Mortem).
A death for Arthur H. Poole, aged 44, was registered in the June quarter, 1918 in the district of St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England.
Private Arthur Henry Poole was buried at 2.30 pm on 24th May, 1918 in Hatfield Road Cemetery, St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England in Grave Number 5. This is now recorded by the CWGC as Plot number Mil. C. 5. and he now has a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone.
From the burial report of Private Arthur Henry Poole - Coffin was Elm polished brass fittings. The deceased soldier was accorded a Military funeral. The coffin was draped with the Union Jack and conveyed to the Cemetery on a Gun Carriage. Firing Party, Pallbearers and Bugler were supplied by the A.I.F. London. Administrative Headquarters, A.I.F. London were represented at the funeral. The Rev. Dr Chadwick conducted the service.
Private Arthur Henry Poole was entitled to British War Medal only as he had not entered a Theatre of War. A Memorial Scroll & Memorial Plaque were also sent to Private Poole’s widow – Mrs E. Poole, as the closest next-of-kin. (Scroll sent July, 1921 & Plaque sent November, 1922).
Acknowledgments
Gareth Hughes, Jonty Wild, Cathy Sedgwick, Beth Page - https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/
