JIM McARTHUR

Private James (Jim) McArthur had been born in 1884 and had been educated at Harewood School. He lived at his family home in Harewood Road by the railway crossing. On leaving school he became an engineer working with the Union Steam Ship Company. He enlisted on 12 December 1914 and was posted to the Canterbury Regiment. He left for overseas service on 13 February 1915, in time to join the Dardanelles invasion force on 25 April 1915. He volunteered for a raid on Turkish positions from the notorious Quinn's Post, but received a gunshot wound to the spine on 5 June 1915. He was evacuated and transferred to the Hospital Ship “Sicilia”, where he subsequently died a day later. His sister Isabelle was engaged to Bill Leadley, whose diary has been published by their grand-daughter. Bill Leadley described hearing the news:

“Ray Lawry returned from Alexandria two days ago and I heard from him of Jim McArthur's death on board the hospital ship. It will be an awful blow for his people at home, and I sympathise for his mother and sisters, who were so wrapped up in him. I sent a letter of sympathy to Mrs McArthur and also to Belle … He was much respected here by the men who knew him … he may be waiting for us when our turn comes … God grant that this assurance may come to all those who loved him.”

His mother later received a letter from a wounded comrade C. Hatfield, who described him as “a great favourite with us all, always patient and cheery during times of hardship and always ready to lend a helping hand to those who needed it.”

Jim McArthur was buried at sea and is commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial in Gallipoli. There is a plaque to his memory in the Papanui Methodist Church on the corner of Harewood Road and Chapel Street, in addition to being listed on both the Papanui and Harewood School memorials.

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