Happy birthday to Arthur Coutts born on this day 100 years ago. Arthur was born in Rupanyup, Victoria and was raised and worked on his parents’ wheat farm.Arthur enlisted in the Australian Army in July 1940 and was posted to the 6th Training Battalion at Mt Martha. He was then transferred to the 2/2 Army Field Workshop Unit at Williamtown. As part of the 6th Division AIF, the unit sailed from Melbourne on the ‘New Holland’ and arrived in Egypt in October 1940 via Colombo and the Suez Canal. The unit also spent time in North Africa including Tobruk, and at Alexandria, Palestine, Syria and Ceylon. The unit returned to Melbourne in August 1942, and after some leave, was posted to Port Moresby in New Guinea. The unit left New Guinea in June 1944 and returned to Australia via Morotai arriving on 15 November 1945, after the war ended. Arthur enjoyed seeing the world and the adventure of serving. He had a long-term friendship with Horrie Broadbent from the same unit.Arthur was discharged from the Army on 10 January 1946 with the rank of Sergeant. He joined the RSL National on his return and remains a member today.He credits his long life to not smoking and eating good food.
Thank you for your service Arthur.
