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James Robertson McArthur was working as a clerk in his brother Alexander’s Silverdale store when, at the age of 19, he enlisted for WWI.
It was October, 1915.
James was born in 1896 in Manitoba, Canada, to Presbyterian Minister John McArthur and Euphemia (nee Shaw). The family moved around NZ after arriving in 1901, finally settling in Otahuhu.
James was a Rifleman with NZ Rifle Brigade (NZRB), 3rd Brigade. The NZRB identified themselves as The Dinks from the phrase “fair Dinkum” used derisively against them by the old hands of the 1st and 2nd Infantry Brigades, who thought they were a bit too proud of themselves. (Always one to get involved, in 1931 James organised the first reunion of The Dinks).
James was transferred to the machine gun section before embarking for Egypt in February, 1916. While there, he was transferred again, this time to “A” Company of the Machine Gun Company, before leaving for France in April 1916.
Trench warfare followed a month later, including raids into enemy territory to gain intelligence about the strength and weapons of the Germans in preparation for the coming battles on the Somme.
Over the summer, James had a couple of spells in hospital with measles and influenza.
By mid-September, he was in the Somme where NZ troops achieved their objective of taking the French village of Flers, and beyond. Such was the importance of the machine gun sections that they became major targets for artillery shelling; a third of the gunners were killed or wounded.
During the war, some soldiers were selected for training courses so they could specialise. James was sent to ‘Sniping School’ and, in January 1917 on his return to the trenches, joined an elite sniping group in the NZRB and earned promotion to Lance Corporal.
He later took part in sniper action which was to take out an enemy post in the village of La Base Ville.
A gun shot wound to his chest and shoulder saw him eventually classified as unfit for further action. He returned to NZ in February, 1918 aboard the Manganui.
After the war, James had a variety of jobs including working in a sawmill, selling hot water systems and as a commercial traveller, before he began farming in Pukekawa in 1932. That same year he married Heather Sutherland at St Luke’s Church in Remuera and their two sons were born in 1934 and 1938.
James was very active in community affairs throughout his life, which could have been a consequence of his family’s close involvement in church affairs.
He was a member of the Commercial Travellers and Warehouseman’s Association, the Auckland Commercial Travellers and Warehouseman’s Association, the Otahuhu Golf Club, the Pukekawa Sports Organisation secretary, and the Franklin Branch of the Farmer’s Union.
In January 1942 he was called up to serve in WWII, but was soon transferred to the Home Guard as he was seen as more useful to the war effort on the farm.
James returned to Rodney to farm in Matakohe and Waimauku.
He died in November 1970 and is buried in the Otahuhu cemetery.
