Yelarbon – ARTHUR, Wilfred Stanley DSO, DFC

Yelarbon – ARTHUR, Wilfred Stanley DSO, DFC

Location – Yelarbon and District Soldiers Memorial Hall, 12 Taloom Street (Cunningham Highway), Yelarbon QLD 4388

Dedication reads –

Group Captain Wilfred Stanley Arthur. DSO. DFC.
Royal Australian Air Force
1919 – 2000

Wilfred Arthur was born on 7th December, 1919. He was the eldest son of S & H Arthur, the local Tick inspector, and received his early education at Yelarbon State school. Wilfred was a very bright student and so was enrolled at The Scots College at nearby Warwick for his secondary education. Wilfred settled into his studies at Scots and immediately made a very big impression on both teachers and students alike. He showed outstanding leadership qualities that saw him elected as College Captain for two years, and was an excellent sportsman winning colours in Rugby, Cricket, Swimming, Athletics and Tennis.

After graduating from Scots College in 1938 Wilfred’s ambition was to fly so he joined the RAAF in April, 1940, to undertake flying training at RAAF Archerfield in Brisbane. On gaining his “wings”, Wilfred was immediately posted to the RAAF’s No. 3 Squadron in the Middle East, where he was quickly into combat flying. Wilf began to show his flying skills and was Mentioned in Dispatches in November 1941. He then became a flying “Ace” by shooting down 2 Italian and 2 German planes, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. He was shot down twice once bailing out, the other time he crashed and received burns for which he was sent back to Australia for treatment. Wilfred was then promoted to Squadron Leader to take charge of 75 Squadron in New Guinea. It was here that he received his highest honour when he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for “Conspicuous bravery and leadership against the enemy”. He was again promoted, to Group Captain, and at 24 years, the youngest to receive this rank.

After the war, Wilfred worked in administration and went to South Vietnam to help the Government but eventually retired to Darwin where he died on the 23rd December, 2000, and lies at rest in Darwin’s War Cemetery.

Read about Southern Downs Military History here.