11th Battalion Private (later Corporal) Arthur Dring

Arthur Dring was born in Islington, London, on 22 January 1890, the son of Robert, a wood cutter whose work took him away from home more often than not, and Eliza, who worked as a charwoman, or cleaner.

The family struggled, and Arthur spent some of his time growing up in the dreaded Holborn Workhouse; first with his father and brother James (10) in 1899, and again with James in late 1904, with Robert and Eliza clearly unable to provide for them.

The family’s situation thankfully revived, and by early 1911 Arthur was working in the new electric light industry and living with his mother, Eliza, and siblings Annie (24), William (22) and Amelia (17).

Not long afterwards he came to WA on the Otway, arriving in Fremantle on 27 June 1911, aged 21. Here, he found work as a carpenter and floorman in Dumbleyung and earned a solid reputation as a very fine cricketer.

Arthur was 26 when he enlisted at Wagin on 11 March 1916 as a private in the 11th Battalion. The ink was barely dry on his enlistment forms when his mother died in England. One wonders whether the photo he had taken at the Dease Studio was for her, and whether he had yet learnt of her death.

Arthur embarked at Fremantle and sailed for Plymouth on Clan McGillivray on 18 September. He was deployed to France just before Christmas and, after more training, joined his unit in the field on 7 February 1917.

Two months later he spent a couple of weeks in hospital with influenza, and rejoined his battalion on 1 May.

A few days later he was wounded in action, suffering shrapnel wounds to his right hand which saw him out of action for almost a month. On his return to duty in June he was appointed lance corporal.

In September the battalion prepared to move into the front lines once more, and marched from Doulieu to Thieushouck, Wippenhoeck and Chateau Segard where they moved into reserve at Halfway House. Intense shelling began on 17 September and the 11th Battalion, including Arthur, moved into the front lines the next day, ready for action.

The battalion diary records 20 September was “the day of days. Our boys got out on to the forming up position like the disciplined soldiers they are, and formed up without hitch. At a few minutes before zero Fritz noticed them and put down a barrage, but our own barrage came down right on the tick and our boys did their job.”

The enemy gathered for a counter-attack, but allied artillery dispersed them, and at the end of that day they had captured 150 prisoners.

Arthur was one of many wounded in that "day of days", of 20 September. This time he suffered gunshot wounds to his right arm, back and buttocks. He was sent to Sangatte, on the English Channel near Calais, where his condition slowly worsened.

He died from his wounds at 4:30am on 28 September 1917 and was buried at Les Baraques Military Cemetery, Sangatte.

There is no mention of his father in his service record and it could be presumed he had also died, by now. In time, Arthur's medals, King’s Memorial Plaque and Scroll were received by his older sister Louisa, in Islington.

https://www.thesoldiersofbarrackstreet.com/lance-corporal-arthur-dring-11th-battalion?rq=dring