ANDREWS Arthur George

Arthur was the oldest son of James and Rachel (nee CLAYDON). One of seven children,, the family was from the Milton district in NSW and Rachel was an Aboriginal from the Budawang area. Arthur was 30 years 2 months when he enlisted at Lismore NSW but his father was living at Pinbarren at that time, and was given as Next of Kin. See also his brother Thomas Leslie.
The Andrews brothers had a troubled time in the Army, starting in June 1915 with the commanding officer at training camp recommending that Arthur be discharged due to problems with drinking at Greenhills and Enoggera. The report states that he was a constant source of trouble due to indiscipline and shirking duty which was prejudicial to the unit. It seems he was in fact discharged but must have joined up again a couple of months later. However, he embarked for the war, but in December at Ismailia, he was put in detention for two weeks for not complying with an order. In March, he was promoted to L/Cpl, but in June he was hospitalised. He had fallen from a horse train and his left leg was crushed, resulting in an amputation and being on the dangerously ill list for weeks.
After a time in several hospitals recovering and then convalescence, he married Esther May BEESLEY on the 21st March 1917.
He embarked for Australia on HS Thermistocles at Devonport on the 4th April 1917.
In August of 1918, Esther wrote to the Army asking if they knew where he was because she hadn't heard from him, but they told her that his last known address was c/o the Post Office in Lismore. He had claimed pension for a daughter which was granted but also for an illegitimate son, who the Army deemed was not dependent on him at the time of enlistment.
Arthur was discharged in August 1917.
Arthur died on 18th September 1929 at Ryde NSW. A coroner's inquest held on the 11 Oct 1929 found his cause of death to be from heart disease.

Milton and Ulladulla Local and Family History web site
Kurbingui Star Supplement 2006 relating to Aboriginal men who fought in WW1
National Australia Archives