Nola Marino (Forrest, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am proud to share the story of World War I Brunswick Junction war veteran Bill Arthur, who will be honoured for his military service later this month. The commemoration will be held at the Old Harvey Cemetery, where Bill's unmarked grave will be upgraded to Commonwealth war grave status. Trooper Arthur sat with the 10th Light Horse Regiment after he enlisted in Perth in October 1915. The then 44-year-old joined the 13th reinforcement of the 10th Light Horse Regiment, heading to Egypt in January 1916. He served in several other units before being discharged in 1919.

Bill moved to Brunswick after he was allocated property as part of the soldier settlement scheme. He lived in a small home near the Brunswick River on Wellesley Road and would take his daily bath near the Wellesley bridge. Bill was made a life member of the Brunswick RSL in 1940 and passed away in 1942 but was buried in an unmarked grave in the Old Harvey cemetery. In recognition of his ties to the area, the Australind and Districts Historical Society renamed the Brunswick River crossing on Wellesley Road 'Bill Arthur's Bridge' in 2015 and it is listed on the heritage council's places database. I want to congratulate and thank the organiser of this, Brian Bevans, from the Brunswick 10th Light Horse Harvey Troop, who will see this grave recognised.