Arthur Bottrell

The Glen Innes Examiner published a similar report on 5 March 1917:

 News has been received of the death from pneumonia of Private Arthur Bottrell, of Amosfield. He went into camp with Privates Newley and Beddow, of this district. The latter, it will be remembered, succumbed to the same malady.

The Stanthorpe Border Post provided more details of Arthur’s death on 25 May 1917:

The late Private Bottrell:  In connection with the death of Private Bottrell recorded in these columns some time ago, two letters have come to hand giving particulars of the lad’s death.  One is from the orderly who nursed him and the other is from his commanding officer, Lieutenant A.C. Woolrych, of the 53rd Battalion, who writes to Mr Thomas Bottrell the following: from Salisbury, England – “You will no doubt have been advised ere this of the death of your son.  As his officer I am writing to tell you how much I regret to have to inform you of the news.  It is hard to lose a son, but this war, I fear, asks of all of us, to make the greatest sacrifices. Your son was taken unwell on disembarkation leave in London, and went to St. Marylebone School’s part of No 2 A.A. Hospital Southall, Middlesex, on the 13th of last month.  Only six days afterwards he died of pneumonia on the 19th, so you see his illness was but a short one.  I know that everything that could be done was done to save his life.  Although he never actually saw any fighting he died on active service and is one of many who have laid down their lives for their country.  I know from actual experience that your son had a high sense of duty and would have made a splendid fighter.  Please accept from me my deepest sympathy in your bereavement.”  

On 5 June 1917, in a letter to Thomas Bottrell from Army Base Records, it was explained that Arthur had died at Southall Australian Military Hospital on 19 February 1917 of pneumonia and was buried at Southall Norwood Cemetery, Southall with the Very Reverend Dean Mercier officiating. The letter continued:

The deceased was accorded a Military Funeral, the remains being followed to the Cemetery by a Platoon of Australian Soldiers under the Command of Captain T.E. Davis A.I.F. The firing Party was provided by the Royal Fusiliers, the “Last Post” being sounded by an Australian Bugler. No relatives were present at the funeral.

It was noted that a good condition elm coffin was provided by Undertakers Messrs. A Sharp & Sons of High Street, Hanwell.

Private Arthur Bottrell is remembered with honour on the Amosfield-Liston War Memorial.

James Newley was much older than his friends, Ernie Beddow and Arthur Bottrell. James was 44 years and 10 months old when he underwent his medical on 1 September 1916 at Tenterfield. He was a grazier and lived at Amosfield with his wife, Sydney.  

Upon his arrival in England, James was admitted to the Military Hospital Devonport on 30 January 1917. He marched into the 14th Training Battalion at Hurdcott on 14 February 1917. Throughout 1917, James was admitted to hospital on numerous occasions which led to him returning to Australia on 19 October 1917 aboard H.T. Port Lyttleton. James arrived in Sydney on 15 December and reported suffering hemorrhoids, varicose veins, and pain in the testicles after having mumps. Private James Newley was discharged from the Army as being medically unfit on 29 January 1918. His application for a war pension was rejected as “his incapacity was not the result of warlike operations.”