Born in Inverell in 1896, Arthur Clive Gentle grew up in Mount McDonald, near Cowra, where he attended to local public school.
When Arthur was just nine years old his father, Arthur snr, died from a long standing heart condition. Arthur snr had been an employee of the Australian Postal Service. He worked in the Electric Telegraph Department in Inverell, Armidale and Sydney.
Young Arthur followed in his father’s footsteps, training as a wireless telegraphist after completing his schooling. At the time of his enlistment in August 1915 he was working as a junior assistant at Orange Post Office.
Because Arthur was under the age of 21, his mother, Edith Emily Green, was obliged to provide her written consent to his enlistment.
Image courtesy National Archives of Australia.
Arthur spent three months at Army Training Camp, before embarking SS Hawkes Bay in Sydney in November 1915. Private Gentle served in Egypt, Sinai and Palestine with the Australian Light Horse.
In June 1916 Arthur was admitted to the 3rd General Hospital in Port Said with burnt feet. He was discharged one month later and taken on strength with the 2nd Light Horse Training Regiment at Tel-el-Kebir.
In October 1916 Private Gentle qualified as a Signaller.
On 28 March 1918 Arthur was wounded in action during the first Battle of Amman. He was admitted to 14th Australian General Hospital in Port Said with gunshot wounds to both legs and his left thigh. Arthur recovered from his injuries and rejoined his regiment in July 1918.
Three months later Signaller Gentle was admitted to the 47th Stationary Hospital in Palestine suffering from malaria. On 21 October 1918 Arthur succumbed to the disease. He was buried in the Gaza War Cemetery the following day; Chaplain ER Lockyer officiated at the funeral.
Arthur Clive Gentle is commemorated on panel number 5 on the Roll of Honour at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
Arthur’s WWI service medals were issued to his mother, Edith, and are now held at the Australian War Memorial.
Arthur Clive Gentle’s grave Gaza War Cemetery, Palestine. Image courtesy Australian War Memorial.
