Arthur Clarence BROMHALL

Arthur Clarence Bromhall was born to Charles William Bromhall and his second wife Clarissa Anne (White).   Charles’ first wife Mary Madeline Carney having died in 1877.  Arthur was the youngest of Charles and Clarissa’s seven children – George Frederick (1881), Lewis Charles (1882), Clarissa Henrietta (1885), Alice Janie (1887), Walter Ernest (1889), Gertrude Sophia (1890) and Arthur Clarence (1894).  His father was a miner and in the 1915 Electoral Roll they were living in Charters Towers.

Arthur’s older brother, Lewis Charles Bromhall, embarked on the RMS Rangatira on 25 September 1914 but returned to Australia on 19 March 1915 injured and was discharged from the Army.  Lewis had previously served in the Boer War in South Africa.

On his enlistment in Cairns, Arthur’s age was 22 years 9 months, occupation a Bank Clerk, his next of kin his father William Clarence Bromhall, Millchester Rd, Charters Towers. This was later changed to ‘deceased’ and next of kin changed to eldest brother Mr G F Bromhall C/- Q.N.Bank Wondai, Qld. He was 5 feet 6 inches in height, weighed 130 pounds with a fair complexion, grey eyes and light brown hair. He was Church of England. He also served in the Senior Cadets. Arthur attended the Queenton State School. His cousin, George A White. was serving in the armed forces.

Charles embarked from Sydney on 24 January 1917 on the HMAT Ayrshire as a Private in the 9 Infantry Battalion. He arrived in England and proceeded to France where he was hospitalised a number of times with illness and frostbite.  He rejoined his battalion for the final time on 13 August 1918 and was killed in action 10 days later.  He was buried at Heath Cemetery, Picardie, France.