Arthur GILCHRIST
Per his initial military service record (Depot), Arthur Gilchrist was born at Millthorpe, N.S.W.[1] He gave his age as 38 years and 2 months, his marital status as single, and his occupation as labourer. His description on his Certificate of medical examination was height 5 feet 9 1/8 inches tall, weight 9 stone, with a fair complexion, blue eyes, and brown hair. His religious denomination was Roman Catholic. He claimed that he had no previous military service, and had been rejected in the past at Gilgandra and Orange for his eyesight and chest measurement.
His next of kin on his Attestation paper was listed as his mother, Mrs Mary Gilchrist, McLachlan Street, Orange N.S.W. His older Brother Robert Gilchrist had joined the Coo-ees at Euchareena on 20th October 1915.
Arthur Gilchrist was listed in The Leader as one of the men who were recruited at Orange to join the Coo-ees.[2]
He completed his medical examination at Orange on 24th October 1915, and was attested by Captain Nicholas at Orange the same day (the day the Coo-ees rested at Orange).
After completing the Coo-ee March he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 13th Battalion.
On 17th of November 1915 Private Gilchrist went before a medical board at Liverpool Camp where he was found to have rheumatism. He was recommended to be discharged.
On 29th November 1915 he was discharged from the A.I.F. medically unfit.
A separate military service record (regimental no. N18113) shows that on 1st April 1916 he re-enlisted in the A.I.F. under the name Arthur Joseph Gilchrist at Gulargambone, N.S.W.[3]
He was sent to the Dubbo Military Camp on 3rd April 1916.
On 3rd May 1916 he was sent to the 54th Depot Battalion at Bathurst Camp.
On 23rd May 1916 Private Gilchrist went before a medical board at Bathurst where he was found to have chronic rheumatism. He was recommended to be discharged.
On 6th June 1916 Private Gilchrist was discharged from the A.I.F. for the second time medically unfit.
It appears that he attempted to re-enlist in the A.I.F. on yet another occasion. According to an article in The Leader, Arthur J. Gilchrist was recorded as one of 22 men rejected as unfit who had tried to enlist in the A.I.F. at the Orange Drill Hall in early 1917.[4]
[1] NAA: B2455, GILCHRIST A
[2] THE RECRUITS. (1915, October 25). Leader (Orange, NSW : 1912 – 1922), p. 4. Retrieved November 26, 2016, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article117842599
[3] NAA: B2455, GILCHRIST A J
[4] RECRUITING. (1917, March 26). Leader (Orange, NSW : 1912 – 1922), p. 6. Retrieved February 25, 2018, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article117824292
1915 Coo-ee March 