Arthur Limb was born on the 27th July 1893, the son of John Limb and Mary Ann Allen. Arthur was the youngest of the couple’s fifteen children and their sixth son. Arthur was known as Ack within his family.

His siblings were Amelia Elizabeth (b 1872), Eliza Jane (b 1872), Annie Ethel (b 1873), John (b 1875), Marian (b 1877), Sarah (b 1879, d 1880), George (b 1880), Samuel Parker (b 1882), Hannah (b 1883), Dorothy (b 1885, d 1886), Allen (b 1886), Nellie (b 1888), Herbert (b 1889), and May Beatrice (b 1891).

Arthur’s father had come to Australia from Chesterfield, England, in 1849, and he arrived in Gawler on the 17th April 1864. He was apprenticed to the blacksmithing trade and entered the firm of James Martin & Co as an employee. He was later appointed foreman of the blacksmithing department and then foreman of the boilermakers and smiths. He finished his active labours as chief storekeeper of the firm.

He was active at the Tod Street Methodist Church and Sunday School at Gawler and had over 50 years’ association with the choir.

Arthur attended the Gawler Public School from at least 1899. He passed all the subjects in the Junior Class in 1900 and in the First Class in 1901. In 1906, he was awarded the Dux Medal jointly with Mildred Sheard.

From 1907, Arthur attended the Gawler Continuation School, where he passed the Primary Examinations (English History, Latin, Algebra, and Geometry) in October that year. In January 1908, Arthur passed the Pupil Teacher Entrance Examinations, and in March 1908, he was appointed an unpaid monitor at Gawler. In July 1908, he was appointed a monitor at Gawler.

Arthur passed two subjects in the Junior Examinations (Latin and Arithmetic) in December 1908, and in January 1909, he passed the examination in drawing, music, and needlework required by the regulations of the Education Department. He also passed Education Department Arts Examinations in First Grade Plane Geometry in June 1909 and Intermediate Solid Geometry in December 1909.

In the Senior Examinations of December 1909, Arthur passed three subjects (Arithmetic and Algebra, Geometry, and Trigonometry), and in the same year, he also passed Junior Examinations in Geometry and Inorganic Chemistry.

Arthur contributed six pence to the King Edward Memorial Fund in June 1910. By December 1910, Arthur was performing at public events in a quartet with his brother S. P. Limb and two others.

He passed two further Senior Examinations (English Literature and Modern History) in December 1910, and in December 1911 (now attending Adelaide High School—formerly the Pupil Teachers' School), he passed the Senior Examination in Latin and the Junior Examination in Geography, along with Second Grade Model Drawing in the Education Department Arts Examinations.

While at Adelaide High School, Arthur was a member of the first eighteen football team, and in 1911, he was Captain of the first eleven cricket team.

After a year at Adelaide High School, Arthur returned to Gawler, where he was a provisional teacher at the Gawler Public School. He taught the ‘second girls’ class, which numbered 48 students.

He played cricket for Gawler Lyrics in the Gawler Cricket Association in the 1911/12 and 1912/13 seasons, scoring 140 in a match against Gawler Unions in December 1912. In the winter of 1912, Arthur played football for Gawler Central in the Gawler Football Association competition. He was best on ground in Central’s final match of the season, a match they lost to South Gawler.

In January 1913, Arthur represented the Gawler Association in cricket matches against the North Eastern Association and against Nuriootpa. In the match against Nuriootpa, Arthur "compiled 76 in very capable fashion." His brother Allen represented Nuriootpa in the match.

In addition to his sporting activities, Arthur continued to sing in a quartet or solo at Gawler. He continued to study and passed the Senior Examination in Inorganic Chemistry in 1912.

Football

Arthur played football for the Adelaide University Football Club in the Amateur League in 1913 and 1914. In June 1913, he was one of six Adelaide University players chosen in a combined Amateur League team to play a match against a team from the Gawler Football Association. He was a member of the 1913 Intervarsity team and was awarded a Blue for Football that year.

In June 1914, he scored five goals in an Amateur League match against Prince Alfred College. Arthur was a member of the Adelaide team which won the 1914 Intervarsity match against Melbourne University.

Cricket

Arthur commenced playing cricket for the Adelaide University Cricket Club in the B Grade in the second half of the 1912/13 season. He batted three times, compiling 52 runs and had a top score of 24. Having played most of the 1912/13 cricket season for Lyrics, in March 1913 Arthur represented the Gawler Association in a cricket match against the Adelaide University Cricket Club.

In the 1913/14 to 1915/16 seasons, Arthur played in the A Grade. In a notable match, he made 35 not out in University’s first innings score of 172 in a match against Sturt in November 1913. Sturt had made 120 in their first innings, but batting with only nine men on a soft wicket in the second innings, they were all out for eight runs—giving University an outright victory. This is the lowest score ever recorded in SACA A Grade District Cricket.

In April 1914, Arthur played for University in a match against the Gawler Cricket Association team, scoring 54 not out. Arthur also represented University in a match against Northern Teams (a combined rural team from towns such as Peterborough, Terowie, and Clare) in April 1914. In the 1913/14 season, Arthur scored 238 runs at an average of 23.8 runs from 11 innings.

Arthur was gaining a reputation as a hard hitter, and during the 1914/15 season, he scored 45 runs in 35 minutes in a match against East Torrens. In a match in January 1915 against the strong East Torrens team, Arthur had a very good match—top scoring with 45 in University’s first innings and making 64 in the second innings. The East Torrens attack included State and Australian fast bowler Bill Whitty.

Arthur had been an occasional bowler but had taken over the role of wicketkeeper from John Blacket during the 1914/15 season. In the East Torrens first innings, he took a catch and made two stumpings. Coincidentally, his older brother Allen was also an A Grade cricketer and was a wicketkeeper for Port Adelaide.

Arthur batted 13 times in the 1914/15 season, scoring 207 runs with a high score of 64 and an average of 15.9. He was awarded a Blue for cricket in 1915, making him a Double Blue.

By the commencement of the 1915/16 season, Arthur had enlisted. In the match against North Adelaide in late October 1915, he scored 24 runs and, as wicketkeeper, affected two stumpings. Although Arthur did not embark until late March 1916, he appears to have played his last match for University in January 1916 against West Torrens.

It should be noted that in the newspapers during the 1915/16 season, Arthur was sometimes named as A.C. Limb. No official statistics for the 1915/16 season were issued due to the impacts of WWI.

In December 1914, Arthur was appointed an assistant teacher at Gawler and he was soon coaching the fourth and fifth class boys at cricket. Then from the 1st April 1915 Arthur was appointed an assistant teacher at the Sturt Street School. His appointment was maintained during his War Service and while ill after his return.

The move to teach at Sturt Street allowed Arthur to play football for Sturt in the South Australian Football League in the 1915 season. The club had a most successful season winning the Premiership and Arthur was awarded the Gold Medal for ‘Most Gentlemanly Player’ of the season (the club’s best and fairest award).

On the 10th October 1915, aged 22 years and three months, Arthur enlisted with the service number of 5249. He was 6 foot tall and weighed 147 lbs, with a fair complexion, grey eyes, and light brown hair. Arthur’s father, John Limb, of Finniss Street, Gawler, was his next of kin. Arthur had been a volunteer cadet for four years.

He attended NCO School at the Mitcham Camp and was appointed a V.O. (Voyage Only) Sergeant on the 16th March 1916. Arthur, his brother Allen, and Syd Coombe were given a farewell at Gawler in late January 1916, and at the end of March 1916, Arthur made a visit to the Gawler High School.

Arthur embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A9 Shropshire as a V.O. Sergeant on 25th March 1916 with the 16th reinforcement of the 10th Battalion. He arrived in the United Kingdom on the 24th April 1916 and reverted to the rank of Private, but on the same day, he was appointed an E.D.P. (Extra Duty Pay) Sergeant. In England, he trained at Parham Downs before proceeding overseas to France on the 14th August 1916. He reverted to the rank of Private on joining his unit.

Arthur was briefly in hospital with influenza "in the field" shortly after joining the 10th Battalion, but rejoined the unit on the 3rd September 1916. By 24th October 1916, Arthur had been appointed a Lance Corporal "in the field" and was confirmed in the role on the 25th November 1916.

On the 6th February 1917, Arthur left France and proceeded to Cadet School at Oxford, England. On the 31st May 1917, he was appointed to the rank of Second Lieutenant in the 10th Battalion. On the 25th August 1917, he left Tidworth, UK, and proceeded to Havre, France. Arthur was promoted to Lieutenant on the 4th September 1917. Arthur’s brother Allen also received a commission in the 48th Battalion.

Arthur was on leave in the United Kingdom from the 12th to the 19th November 1917. Arthur received the award "Mention in Despatches" for a recommendation dated 8th March 1918 (awarded and promulgated in London Gazette No. 30706, 28 May 1918; Commonwealth Gazette No. 165, 24 October 1918).

On the 13th July 1918, Arthur was recommended for the Military Cross; however, he did not receive the award. The recommendation stated:

“In an operation against enemy positions near HERRIS on June 28th 1918, Lieut. LIMB as transport officer by his skilful leadership and utter disregard of personal safety got his transport forward to the old German Lines – a point within 300 yards of the present German posts – under very heavy shell fire, notwithstanding casualties to mule leaders and mules. His work was of the utmost value, for by getting every load of ammunition and rations forward to the newly captured posts he saved carrying parties of at least 80 men at a time when every available man was needed.”

Another copy of this recommendation went on to say:

“I cannot speak too highly of this officer’s constantly demonstrated personal courage.”

From 10th to 26th August 1918, Arthur was in the 3rd London Hospital at Codford, suffering from sycosis barbae (a type of folliculitis affecting the beard area due to infection with the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus).

Arthur was recommended for the award "Mention in Despatches" for a second time on the 25th September 1918 (awarded and promulgated in London Gazette No. 31089, 31 December 1918; Commonwealth Gazette No. 61, 23 May 1919).

On the 21st November 1918, Arthur was temporarily attached to the Australian War Records Section. He proceeded overseas again on the 5th February 1919 and returned to England from Havre, France, on the 4th April 1919. He remained in the UK in the Overseas Training Brigade. While still in the UK, he played in the Australian Divisional Championship, which was won by the 9th and 10th Battalions team.

Arthur returned to Australia onboard the Nestor, which departed from the UK on the 20th May 1919 and arrived in Australia on the 29th June 1919. Prior to his return to Australia, Arthur had written to the secretary of the Sturt Football Club stating that he was in “good health and condition” and that he hoped to play in the 1919 football season.

However, on the journey home, Arthur caught a cold which turned into acute bronchitis.

An article in the Bunyip, the local Gawler newspaper on the 28th May 1920, states that Arthur was carried off the Nestor on a stretcher, and he spent from June to December in the Bedford Park Sanatorium.

The book True Blue: The History of the Sturt Football Club by John Lysikatos states, at page 63, that Arthur did train for the first time since 1915 in July 1919 and may have played in the match against Norwood on the 12th July 1919 had Golding not recovered from a sprained ankle. Arthur Limb was said to be in the grandstand at Unley Oval for the match.

Arthur’s service record shows that he was diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis, and a note dated 7th July 1919 stated that he was to be transferred to the Bedford Park Sanatorium (now the site of Flinders University).

In late January 1920, Arthur wrote from his parents’ address to the Defence Department, querying why he had received letters addressed to "Lieut. A. Limb, M.C." The Defence Department later confirmed that the letters had been addressed in error and that Arthur had not been awarded the Military Cross.

On the 9th February 1920, Arthur returned to Bedford Park Sanatorium for further treatment.

Arthur was on leave from Bedford Park Sanatorium and staying with his family at Finniss St, Gawler when he haemorrhaged and died on the 7th May 1920. Aged 26 years.

Arthur was buried at the Willaston Cemetery, Gawler. He left an estate valued at £500. In October 1920 trees were planted at the Gawler Oval to honour Arthur Limb and others from the Gawler area who fell in the war.

For the complete profile on Arthur Limb including photographs, newspaper articles, documents and sources prepared by Beth Filmer for the AUFC/AUCC WWI Memorial Project (with assistance from Rob O'Shannassy, Janne Filmer & Kym Beilby) please see the Adelaide University site AdelaideConnect at https://connect.adelaide.edu.au/nodes/view/25718