Arthur Edward May was nineteen and six months old when he enlisted for the Australian Imperial Force at Korumburra. Victoria. he was the son of Thomas Edward May and his wife Matilda, nee Henson. He was a slight man, 5' 5" in height, with blue eyes and light brown hair. and a labourer by trade. He gave as his next of kin, his sister, Miss Matilda May, then living at 43 Berry St. East Melbourne. Arthur May enlisted on 3 November, 1914, and was placed with the 5th Battery, 2nd Field Artillery Battalion, but on 18 February, 1915, the A.I.F. Receiving Depot in South Melbourne recorded that he had failed to report for duty . He was declared under Article 72 of the Army Act to be a deserter at Broadmeadows and was struck off strength.
He re-enlisted on 5 April, 1915 and was transferred to Egypt, where on 13 July 1915, he was diagnosed with gonorrhea and admitted to hospital at Alexandria, before being transferred to Hospital in Cairo. From here, he was sent home for discharge from the Army, embarking on the H.M.A.T. Port Lincoln for Melbourne.
On 4 July, 1916, he was again in the A.I.F., re-embarking at Melbourne on H.M.A.T. Berrima for France, where he was placed as a Driver with the 13th Field Artillery Brigade. During World War I, the original 13th Regiment was designated the 13th Field Artillery Brigade, and was assigned to the 5th Division. Formed in February 1916, it served in Egypt, the Sinai and on the Western Front. Its recruits were mainly drawn from the state of Victoria.
On 4 July, 1916, Arthur May was again in the armyy, re-embarking at Melbourne on the H.M.A.T. Berrima for France to join the 13th F.A.B. From here, it is difficult to trace his movements, as the Field Artillery Batteries moved to where they were needed. The drivers brought supplies of ammunition and other necessities out to the Field Batteries at the front, driving wagons with four to six horses.
On 11 April, 1917, he embarked for England on the H.S. St Denis from Boulogne, suffering from periostitus of the tibia, He doen not seem to have rejoined his unit in France until 7 February, 1917.
At some stage, he most have been given furlough, because on 14 February, 1918, he married Ethel Elsie Dean at All Sanits Church, South Wimbledon, Surrey. Arthur was by then 23 and Elsie, 21. On the marriage certificate, he gave his occupation as 'Australian Farmer, on active service'.
Being a Driver was a highly dangerous role, but Arthur May appears to have escaped without injuries until 21 June, 1918, when he suffered a fracture of the pelvic bone and was transferred to England for treatment. He was sent to the Military Hospital in Endell St., presumable London, and then transferred to the 1st Auxiliary Hospital to recuperate. Harefield Park House was used as the No.1 Australian Auxiliary Hospital from 1914-Januuary 1919, so he was probably placed there. From there, he went on furlough from 31 August to 26 September, then back to London post-furlough on 10 October.at Australian Headquarters, before returning to Melbourne with Elsie on the Mitiades on 7 January, 1919.
Arthur sand Elsie were to have five children in twelve years.In 1921, they were living at Lilydale, but by the 1930s, moved to Alphington, then Northcote. Elsie died on 28 August, 1964, having been married to Arthur for 46 years. Arthur may died at their home, 20 Henry St., Northcote, on 10 October, 1968, and was buried at Fawkner Cemetery.
N.A.A. War Record, Arthur Edward May
Ancestry Public Member Tree James Henshall's Family