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Arthur Lawrence Fitzgibbon - Information

Arthur Lawrence Fitzgibbon was born and raised in Campbelltown. When war broke out, Arthur was still living in Campbelltown and working as a telegraphist. When Arthur was 21, he enlisted in the AIF in Albury on the 9th of January 1917. He was originally stationed to the Showground Camp in Sydney, before Menangle Park with the 1st Light Horse Regiment. Arthur'€™s unit was shipped out from Sydney on the 17th of February 1917 onboard the RMS Morea.

Arthur arrived at Suez on the 4th of April 1917. He was stationed to Moascar Camp and then to Abbassia where he was transferred to the Camel Corps on the 9th of April. Shortly after his transfer, Arthur was admitted to the Military Infectious Hospital with German measles. In late May, he rejoined his unit and was taken on strength to the 3rd ANZAC Battalion, ICC in June. While completing patrols, Arthur was promoted to Lance Corporal on the 15th of October 1917, and to Corporal by January 1918. In July, he was transferred to the 15th Light Horse Regiment and was made Temporary Sergeant on the 23rd of October.

When the war ended, Arthur now a Corporal, was in hospital with venereal disease. In 1919, he continued to work with the Regiment, and was discharged in 1920. He wanted to make his own way home via England, Canada and America. During this time, however, his family in Campbelltown had received little news of him. They began writing the army in May 1920 for his whereabouts. In 1921, Arthur was back in Australia and living in Smithfield. He eventually moved back to Macarthur, where he fell in love with Jessie Niven. They married in Campbelltown in 1925 and had two children Noel and Maureen. Arthur and Jessie remained in the area while Arthur worked as the Postmaster. Arthur passed away in 1957 and is buried in St John'€™s in Campbelltown.