Contributed by Ron Inglis, April 2022:
Private Arthur Badger served in the Australian Imperial Force for almost three years before he died of wounds on 9 August 1918. A carpenter by trade, Badger had completed an apprenticeship of five years with C M Bagge of Auburn.
On enlistment at Holsworthy on 20 August 1915, Badger declared his age as ’21 years 4 mths’ and he nominated his father, William Badger, of Cambridge Street, Lidcombe, as his next-of-kin. Badger also declared previous military service in H Coy 39th Infantry Homebush.
Private Badger embarked on the Medic on 30 December 1915 and arrived in Egypt in February of the new year. He moved off to the Western Front where he was allocated to the 3rd Battalion in May 1916. On the first day of the battle of Pozières in July 1916, Badger was wounded in the neck and he was transported back to the Beaufort Hospital in Bristol, United Kingdom. After two months recovery he was back with his unit on 6 October 1916.
Badger survived all the major battles of the 1st Australian Division through 1917 and he enjoyed 14 days’ leave in the UK in October-November 1917.
Badger died of wounds on 9 August 1918. He was buried in the Adelaide Cemetery adjacent to the town of Villers-Bretonneux. For his gravestone his now widowed mother chose the inscription: NOT LOST BUT ONLY GONE BEFORE
Arthur Badger is honoured on the following memorials in Australia:
- Lidcombe War Memorial
- St Stephens Anglican Church Lidcombe Memorial Plaques
- Auburn Boys Public School Great War Photographic Honour Roll
- Roll of Honour Australian War Memorial Canberra