ARLIDGE, George William

George  Arlidge was born at Cumberland in Sydney on the 7 May 1887 to Edward Lewis Arlidge and his wife, Goergina. He enlisted at Moore Park depot in Sydney on the 7 April 1916.  He was 30 years old and listed as an Ironworker. He had married Jane Charlotte Clark, born in Richmond, Victoria, in 1888, and listed himself on the marriage certificate as a traveller, living at 16 Moorhouse St., Richmond.  On his enlistment form, he listed his wife, Charlotte, as his next of kin, as living at 'Waratah', 132 Powlett Street, East Melbourne.

Following his enlistment, George Arlidge attended the Signals Training depot at Kiama from 11 April 1916 to 1 September, 1916 then embarked from Sydney on the SS Ceramic on 7 October 1916, disembarking at Plymouth on 21 November 1916. On 14 May 1917, he proceeded to France from Folkestone and was taken on strength as a private with the 1st Battalion on 25 May 1917.

Over the next twelve months he spent time in several field hospitals with Cellulitis. He was admitted to King George Military Hospital 6 August, 1918 , with complications to his left foot and leg, due to inflammation of connective tissue of his left ankle. As a result, although his battalion was fighting at Amiens and then Belgium, George Arlidge, it would seem saw little action. 

He was also held on several charges for being AWL and charged with drunkeness in December, 1918, before being returned to Australia on the SS Argyllshire on 9 December, 1918.  He was admitted to the 11th Australian General Hospital at Caulfield on 14 February 1919 and died the next day, 15 February 1919, aged 32. The cause of death was listed as spinal injuries, although there was no indication of this in his war record. However, as he is listed on the AWM Roll of Honour and the injury must have been severe, it must be accepted that the damage occurred during his war service.

He is listed as being buried in the Burwood Cemetery. However no record of this has been found in the Burwood records. There appears to be no death notice for him in either The Argus or The Sydney Morning Herald, but an In Memoriam notice in the SMH, 16 February 1920 reads: In loving memory of our dear son and brother, George, who departed this life February 15, 1919. Although the grave divides us, And you we cannot see, Just let this token tell,  We still remember thee.