Corporal Arthur Whaley
- Rank
- Corporal
- Service number
- 875
- Unit
- 12 Battalion
- Cause of death
- Died of Wounds
- Place of death
- Gallipoli, Turkey
- Date of death
- 27 April 1915
- Age
- 29
- Plaque number
- M511
- Dedicated by
- English Family on 15 August 2015
- More information
Biography presented during plaque dedication:
Corporal Arthur Whaley of 12 Battalion was born in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, England to Harriet and George Whaley in April 1886. He had three brothers and eight sisters.
He attended St John’s school in Worksop. Arthur saw action in the South African Campaign with the South Wales Borderers with whom he served for seven years and five years in reserves.
He then joined the merchant navy, finally ending up in Australia where he decided to go gold mining at the Sons of Gwalia in Kalgoorlie.
On the outbreak of World War 1, he applied to join the army and was accepted.
Due to his past experience with the South Wales Borderers, he was quickly appointed a corporal during initial training at Blackboy Hill Military Camp.
At the completion of their training, they were transferred to 12 Battalion, a Tasmanian Battalion made up of Eastern States and Western Australian servicemen.
On 2 November 1914, Arthur sailed with his battalion aboard HMAT Medic for the Middle East for more training.
Dawn on 25 April saw 12 Battalion land as one of the first on the sands of Gallipoli.
Two days later Arthur was badly wounded and, with a shattered elbow and chest, he was evacuated to a hospital ship off-shore. He died that same day and was buried at sea.
Corporal Arthur Whaley, service number 875 of 12 Battalion, died of his wounds at Gallipoli on 27 April 1915. He was 29 years of age.
His name is inscribed on the Lone Pine memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey.