Victor James McCool Arthur, a carpenter of Lidcombe, first enlisted on 16 August 1914 (with regimental number 691). Three days later, he sailed from Sydney on the Berrima with the Australian Naval & Military Expeditionary Force to seize the German colony of New Guinea. Service completed, Victor Arthur was discharged from the AN&MEF in March 1915.
Victor enlisted in the AIF on 21 January 1916 (with regimental number 5646) and embarked on the Clan Mac Gilliavary on 3 May 1916. After several months further training on the Salisbury Plain of England, Victor Arthur crossed to France on 23 September 1916. Seven months later, Victor was taken prisoner during the battles of Bullecourt and he spent the rest of the war as a Prisoner of War in Germany. He was repatriated to England on 2 January 1919.
Quite out of character, Victor Arthur went AWL from 27 May 1919 to 5 December 1919. A Court Marshal found him guilty of being illegally absent and sentenced him to 90 days detention in Lewes Detention Barracks. The sentence was reduced to 30 days and Victor Arthur embarked for Australia on 22 January 1920.
As the crime of being illegally absent for such an extended period occurred after the cessation of hostilities, Victor Arthur was awarded all his medals. In addition, he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for services rendered while a Prisoner of War.