Contributed by Ron Inglis, October 2021
6090 Private Arthur Sheppard, 30, was born in England and was a carpenter. He and his wife Rose and two children, Mary and Elise, lived in the Sydney suburb of Auburn and were members of the St Philip’s Auburn congregation. Arthur was also a member of the Auburn Lodge of the Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows. Despite these connections to Auburn, Arthur enlisted at Bathurst in regional NSW on 4 March 1916. It is also interesting to note he is the only Auburn Memorial man with typed answers on his Attestation Paper in his service file.
Arthur embarked on the Wiltshire on 22 August 1916, with fellow Auburn Memorial men Lewis Anderson, John Arnot, Samuel Grindrod, and Robert Lamb. Arriving in Plymouth, United Kingdom, on 12 October 1916, Arthur spent another two months in UK training camps before crossing to France and marching into the 4th Battalion on 20 December 1916.
Twelve days later, Arthur received a gunshot wound to left thigh and back. He died of wounds on 9 January 1917 at the 1st General Hospital at Etretat on the coast of France. Arthur was one of the few casualties during the freezing northern winter when there was little aggressive military activity. He was buried in the Etretat Churchyard Extension and for his gravestone, his wife chose the inscription: THOUGH YOUR RESTING PLACE IS FAR AWAY OUR THOUGHTS ARE WITH YOU EVER.
Arthur's name is misspelt on the Auburn War Memorial and on the Municipality of Auburn 1914-1919 honour roll, but spelt correctly on the honour roll of St Philip’s Anglican Church.
Early in the First World War, the Thomas Cook travel company offered to return to beneficiaries in Australia the personal effects of any member of the AIF who perished while on active service abroad. Arthur's wife, living in Auburn, received the following from the AIF Kit Store in London: Identity disc, Money belt, Fountain pen, Pipe, Bead article, Metal mirror, Testament, Key, Piece of shrapnel, Coins, Buttons, Tin box, Photos, Cards.
Arthur Sheppard is honoured on the following memorials in Australia:
- Auburn War Memorial
- Municipality of Auburn 1914-1919 Honour Roll
- St Philip's Anglican Church Auburn First World War Honour Roll
- Roll of Honour Australian War Memorial Canberra
His decorations:
- Victory Medal
- British War Medal 1914-20
