Source: File: Private
(Signaller) Arthur Joseph Hill. See an original image at: <http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205301221>
[Accessed 03 March 2017]
Source: File: Arthur Joseph Hill. See an original image at: <http://beyond1914.sydney.edu.au/profile/3168/arthur-joseph-hill>
[Accessed 03 March 2017]
Source: File: Letter from Arthur Hill, father of A.J. Hill. See an original image at: <http://beyond1914.sydney.edu.au/profile/3168/arthur-joseph-hill> [Accessed 03 March 2017]
i
A Sydney lad of
Waverly New South Wales,
Left home of 60
Wiley Street,
With his father's
name - Arthur Joseph Hills
Had departed to
take part in war.
Born 18 September
1897 Arthur's early
Education in
Waverly; Christian
Brothers College
to University of Sydney,
To study English
till 1916.
In schooling
career his bright disposition
Was recognised; upright with
Manly
participation in sports and class -
Captain of 1st 15
football team.
Arthur Hill's
ability had been well proved
And matriculated, in 1915
He made a place
at University to gain
A bursary for a
good future.
Then aged 18,
Arthur enlisted February
On the 23 day, to
attend signal
School at Kiama -
examinations taken
Made him first class
signaller.
Within six months, at rank of Corporal,
24th August Arthur Hills
Departed
Australia, with expeditionary
Australian Imperial
Forces.
Late 1916, Signaller
Arthur Hill in France
With
Reinforcements Battalion,
Took part in
actions about the Somme;
Bapaume as
Germans retreated
Corporal perhaps was
a temporary rank;
Private Arthur 'Snowy'
Hill,
Affectionately named
being tall, stout lad,
With light hair and
complexion.
ii
Into 1917 a
military operation carried
Out codenamed 'Alberich' -
In 1916 had
formed German salient’s
Of saint-Quentin
and Arras.
This was a
planned strategy to regroup
To the Hidenburg
line to cut
Front, for ease of
defence - though allies
Believed this was
a retreat.
Preparations had
seen German troops
Destroy commune’s
roads and
Railways while
poisoning water supplies,
Leaving booby
traps behind.
The dawn of 1917
still offered no sign
Of allied Victory,
when
The shift away of
German presence from
Salient’s made
hope.
The area lay in close
sight of Australian
Trenches, where Signaller
Arthur Hill 3827, took part in the operation
To move into gaps
left.
17 March 1917, would see the Australians
Make a road to Main Square
Make a road to Main Square
Of Bapaume -
where an Anzac army band
Made appearance
to play.
Yet a time
delayed mine had been placed
Below the town
hall, to
Blew within days
to bury troops; meanwhile
Snipers were an
issue.
iii
Amid later accounts
of the Australian Red
Cross, came
informants
Of those close to Signaller
Private Arthur
Hill, to clarify events.
Pte. J. Glynn
3815, Pte. W. Curran 4015,
C. Wallbank, Pte.
Mckenzie 384,
Cpl T Mckenzie
1116, Pte. L. O. Lees 3835;
Snowy Hill's mate, Pte. F. Dunne.
The Australians
were close to Bollecourt,
In Sunray Trench
the lad
Nicknamed Snowy, Pte.
Arthur Hill 3827
Helped gain 1/2
mile of trench.
Pte. Glynn told
how Snowy had been part
Of fatigue duty
at Sunray
Trench, close to
the 'crater' - then under
German counter
attacks.
Varied versions by likely battle confusion,
As Pte. W Curran
4015
Said shelling in
the early hours struck
Snowy down
instantly.
Yet all others
said that sniper problem
Had got him - Pte.
Glynn
Believed a sniper
took Hill down through
The heart -
killed outright.
Cpl. Mckenzie
1116, was at the time there
As a witness that
Pte. Hill
Had moved just
above the parapet, to be
Target of a keen
sniper.
Pte. Mckenzie 384, a close mate, said
Hill was also
known as 'honey' -
That they shared
leave in London. Only
Later to find out
what happened.
Others were there
close to the signaller,
Paul Vincent of A
Coy,
Told that Pte.
Arthur Hill had looked over
Parapet of Mosoon
trench.
Some sniper took a
rapid aim to shoot
The signaller
through
The neck - C. Wallbank
was with him
And confirmed his
identity.
Another
uncertainty lay over Hill's grave;
Close by to
Sunray trench,
But his mate failed to find it and later told
It lay at Cameron
Sap.
Pte. Lees
reported how Hill's death had
Been registered with
Padre Ward - a cross
marked the grave,
How his effects
sent home.
Days later his
father, Arthur, wrote to thank
University Union
President, for
Kind letter of
sympathy for a son's death -
Signed, yours
respectfully.
Thursday 22 February 1917, another day
2nd day 29th Week
In the 3rd year
of war, an Australian man
Was shot digging a
sap.
A day short of
one year in joining, had
Seen Pte. Arthur
Hill killed -
22 February 1917
genuinely popular lad,
Named Honey and Snowy.
by Jamie Mann.
Source: File: Explore Military Uniform. Available
at: <https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/294422894375837134/> [Accessed 03 March 2017]
Source: File: Beyond 1914 - The University of Sydney and the Great
War. Available at: <http://beyond1914.sydney.edu.au/profile/3168/arthur-joseph-hill> [Accessed 03 March 2017]
Source: File: Bapaume To Bullecourt (1917). Available at: <http://aso.gov.au/titles/historical/bapaume-to-bullecourt/notes/>
[Accessed 03 March 2017]
Source: File: [PDF] 3827 Private Arthur Joseph Hill - Australian War
Memorial. Available at: <https://www.awm.gov.au/images/collection/pdf/RCDIG1047611--1-.pdf>
[Accessed 03 March 2017]
#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary
#worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1Australia
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