The Fifth Division of the AIF was formed in February 1916 and consisted of the 8th Brigade – 29th, 30th, 31st, 32nd Battalions; 14th Brigade – 53rd, 54th, 55th, 56th Battalions and 15th Brigade – 57th, 58th, 59th, 60th Battalions. The Fifth Division embarked from Alexandria in Egypt via Marseilles in France to join the troops on the battlefields of the Western Front. The Fifth Division under the command of Major General James W. McCay took part in the Battle of Fromelles which proved costly for the Division which suffered 5,533 casualties.
Arthur Joseph Weir was a member of A Company, 29th Battalion when he embarked from Melbourne in November 1915. Private Arthur Weir was 26 years old when he made the supreme sacrifice for his country at the Battle of Fromelles on 19 July 1916.
Private Arthur Joseph Weir
Photo: Private Arthur Joseph Weir No 358 [AWM DA120012]
This photo has been reproduced with the permission of the Australian War Memorial
Prior to his enlistment on 15 July 1915 Arthur Weir was a farmer who had been a member of the Winiam Rifle Club in country Victoria. Private Weir’s Service Record, which can be viewed at National Archives of Australia, is a short 22 pages in length and there are no eyewitness accounts in the Red Cross Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau Files to give an insight into how he died. The Red Cross files do however contain the vital German documents which provided the evidence for Lambis Englezos to add Private Weir’s name to the missing buried at Pheasant Wood. Private Weir is commemorated on the wall at VC Corner Cemetery Fromelles adjacent to the Australian Memorial Park.
SPECIAL NOTICE OF UPCOMING COMMEMORATIONS AND EVENTS IN MELBOURNE
The Australian Memorial Park contains the Cobbers Sculpture by Peter Corlett which was unveiled in 1998. The sculpture is based on Sergeant Simon Fraser (No.3101) of 57th Battalion rescuing a cobber from the 60th Battalion. On the 92nd Anniversary of the Battle of Fromelles, a second Cobbers sculpture will be unveiled at The Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne. The Shrine has announced a number of talks which will be held in the week proceeding the unveiling.
Tuesday 15th July, 2pm – Pompey Elliott: ‘The Slaughter Was Dreadful’. Presented by Dr. Ross McMullin
Thursday 17th July, 2pm – The Investigative Dig at Pheasant Wood, Fromelles. Presented by Maj. Gen. Mike O’Brien
Photo: Major General Mike O’Brien on site at Pheasant Wood, May 2008
Friday 18th July, 2pm – The AIF’s Mystery Battle: Then and Now. Presented by Mr Patrick Lindsay
Photo: Author, FROMELLES, Patrick Lindsay
On Saturday 19 July at 11am a public ceremony to unveil the ‘Cobbers’ sculpture by artist Peter Corlett will take place. Proposed by the Friends of the 15th Brigade, this second casting will commemorate the Battle of Fromelles.
Photo: Sculptor Peter Corlett & Lambis Englezos [With the permission of the Shrine of Remembrance]
Bookings are essential for all programs: (03) 9661 8100 or programs@shrine.org.au
For more information about the these programs visit www.shrine.org.au/publicprograms
FROMELLES IS NOT HONOURED ON THE NATIONAL OR ANY STATE MEMORIAL IN AUSTRALIA.
FFFAIF SUPPORTS ALL EFFORTS TO RECOGNISE FROMELLES ON OR AT THE NATIONAL AND ALL STATE MEMORIALS THAT PRESENTLY LIST BATTLES BY NAME.
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