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Married: 1904. Moree, New South Wales, Australia. Marriage Cert:16472/1924.
Wife: Edna Byrnes. nee: Cooper.
Died: 1958. Burwood, New South Wales, Australia. Death Cert:27781/1958.
Mother: Ellen Byrne. nee: Phillips.
Arthur Byrne enlisted with C Company 33rd Battalion AIF on the 14th of January 1916 and
was an original member of the Battalion and left Sydney on board HMAT A74 "Marathon" on the 4th of
May 1916.
7th June 1917
The 3rd Australian Divisions first major offencive was at Messines Ridge on the 7th June 1917.
The Australian 3rd Division was a part of the II Anzac Corps which was allotted to the first
assault. The 25th New Zealand, 3rd Australian Division with the 4th Australian Division in
reserve. The 4th Division were battle hardened troops who had fought many major battles.The 3rd
Australian Division were having problems getting to the "jump off" point. The day before the 9th
and 10th Infantry Brigades were bombarded by German Gas-Shells around Hill 63 and Plugstreet
Wood. Many of the Aussies were not wearing gas masks, but dispite this they pressed on even
though they received 500 casulties.
They made it to the "jump off" point but only just with some of the men from the 9th and 10th
going straight over the top without stopping. The mines went up and the attack commenced behind
a protective barrage. The II Anzac Corps were attacking on the right with their objective being
the southern shoulder of the ridge which included Messines, the Dover and St Yves areas as far
south to the east of Plugstreet Wood.
Major General Sir John MONASH's 3rd Division had to contend with a tricky 3 mile approach out of
Plugstreet Wood and after the German gas attack, but they were not detered. The 9th Infantry
Brigade under Brigadier General A JOBSON and the 10th Infantry Brigade under Brigadier General
W R NICHOLL had just made the jumping off point but some of the men did not stop, going straight
into the assault from the approach march.
Their objective lay between St Yves and the Douve. The mines at Trench 127 and Trench 12 at
Factory Farm were laid to aid this task. The explosions erupted a few seconds before zero hour
and created craters of 200 feet in diameter, completely obliterating the German defence line as
the 9th and 10th Infantry Brigades went over the top. The mine crates forced the 9th and 10th
Brigades to veer to the left and right which caused some confusion with the main assault. It is
testimony to the quality of training that every man knew the ground, tasks and objectives so well.
Private: 1804 John CARROLL 33rd Battalion, rushed the
enemy's trench and bayoneted four of the German occupants. He then noticed a comrade in difficulties
and went to his assistance, killing another German. He then attacked single handed a German Machine
Gun Team, killing all three of them and capturing the gun. He later rescued two of his comraded who
had been buried alive by German Shell Fire, and in spite of heavy shelling and machine gun fire he
dug them out alive and saved them from certain death. John was awarded the
Victoria Cross.
The German foward zone was completely engulfed and taken by the main assault. The two supporting
battalions of each brigade then passed the leading battalion to continue the advance. The men
were constantly re-supplied and the ridge was taken. There were many German prisoners taken
during the offencive. The 3rd Division was well ahead with the 9th Infantry Brigade pushing on
beyond Grey Farm, and on the right the 10th Infantry Brigade were veering left towards Septieme
Barn north of Douve.
The German resistance was heavy but was generally brushed aside by tanks and artillery before
the infantry had to become too involved.The 4th Bavarian Divisions Artillery had mede little
impact, but as the day wore on the 3rd Division and later the 4th Australian Division received
many casulties from German artillery. (70% of all casulties during WW1 were from artillery).
By 9:00am nearly 6 hours after the assault began the Germans were in dissaray, but there was a
major problem as the Australians received less casulties as anticipated and when ordered to dig
into the ridge they had so many men, that some could not find shelter. the 35th battalion were
dug in around Seaforth Farm.
The second phase of the operation was to take the Oosttaverne Line. The 3rd Australian Division
would now be in reserve with the 4th Division attacking. The 9th Infantry Brigade (33-34-35-36Bn)
were near Thatched Cottage facing Warneton. The river Lys was to their right and the Plugstreet
Wood was now behind them.
Once their objectives were taken the troops consolidated. A barrarge to stop and counter attack
was shortnened and caught three battalions which had to retire. By 9:00pm this part of the
Oosttaverne Line was abandonded. At 10:45pm General Godley ordered the 3rd and 4th Divisions to
retake it. This they did by the early hours of the 8th of June.
The Battle for Messines Ridge during May-June 1917 saw 35 officers and 1,631 other ranks loose
their lives.
| 33rd Battalion. AIF | 8 Officers | 382 Other ranks |
| 34th Battalion. AIF | 10 Officers | 378 Other ranks |
| 35th Battalion. AIF | 5 Officers | 431 Other ranks |
| 36th Battalion. AIF | 9 Officers | 421 Other ranks |
| 9th Machine Gun Company. AIF | 2 Officer | 17 Other ranks |
| 9th Light Trench Mortor Battery. | 1 Officer | 2 Other ranks |
6th July 1917.
Private: 718 Arthur BYRNE. 33rd Battalion AIF. for conspicious gallantry and devotion to duty during the Battle of MESSINES from June 7th to June 11th. Private Arthur Byrnes acted as a runner from the new front line to Company Headquarters. This area was under constant and heavy shell fire but Private Byrne carried messages back without the slightest delay. Through his splendid fearlessness and contempt for danger, Battalion Headquarters was constantly informed of what was happening. Several times also he guided streatcher bearers forward and although of small stature on one occasion he carried a wounded man to a place of comparative safety. His cheerfulness and gallantry and his devotion to duty greatly inspired his comrades.
London Gazette 16th August 1917. Page 8426 Position 70.
Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 20th of December 1917. Page 3376 Position 80.
Arthur was reccommended for a Military Medal on 4 separate occassions during the first World War.
Returned to Australia on the 6th of November 1918.
Arthur was a single 18 year old Jockey from Alice Street, East Moree, N.S.W. upon enlistment. His parents John and Ellen Byrne were married in 1898 at Sydney, N.S.W. Marriage Cert:4758/1898 and had at least 6 children. Arthur Byrne born 1898 in Sydney, N.S.W. Birth Cert:334/1898 and died in 1958 at Burwood, N.S.W. Death Cert:27781/1958. Albert Thomas Byrne born 1899 in Sydney, N.S.W. Birth Cert:18279/1899 and died in 1943 at Newtown, N.S.W. Death Cert:4323/1943. Margaret Byrne born 1901 in Sydney, N.S.W. Birth Cert:278/1901. Patrick Byrne born 1903 in Sydney, N.S.W. Birth Cert:134/1903. Veronica Byrne born 1905 at St-Peters, N.S.W. Birth Cert:17569/1905. Cecilia Byrne born 1906 at Lithgow, N.S.W. Birth Cert:35774/1906.
(Australian National Archives)
Under Construction. 27/06/2009.
