PROMOTING THE HISTORY AND ARCHIVES OF MT COMPASS
Bollen, Arthur
Arthur Oliver Bollen (Rank: Private)
Born in Waikerie on 20th December 1918, Arthur was the only son of Hilfers Harper (Harry) Bollenhagen and Jessie Currie Bollenhagen (nee Hindley). They also had two daughters, Jean and Lorna P.
It is believed that he grew up in Jabuk, South Australia and later worked for Mel Jacobs at Mt Compass for five years, as a live-in labourer/dairy worker. While he was at war in Egypt, Arthur wrote a letter to Mel’s grandson Linton Jacobs, who recently recalled that one New Year’s Eve, Arthur rode his bike to Port Elliot to dance with a particular student teacher. He then rode back to Mt Compass in time to milk the cows at 5.00am.
Arthur became a member of the Mount Compass Literary Society in 1936 and is known to have taken part in some performances in the hall.
In 1941, while still serving, Arthur married Mabel Jean Dunning of Burra. His birth certificate, which was produced for the marriage, recorded his surname as Bollenhagen. His new wife subsequently signed a Statutory Declaration for the army to say her husband’s correct name was Bollen. The couple were married during an approved period of seven days “pre-embarkation leave”. (Note: Arthur’s parents are listed on the 1939 Electoral Roll under the surname Bollen).
Arthur had initially signed up as a Private with the Aust Army Service Corps (AASC) on 22nd October 1940 before then enlisting with the Aust Imperial Force (AIF) on 4th February 1941. Arthur was still single at this time, aged 22 and working as a farm labourer. His employer was Mr V A Dennis of Waitpinga, while his home address (and his father’s) was recoded as a Post Box at Victor Harbor.
He was placed in the 13 Reinforcement Group and later joined the 2/7th Australian Field Regiment. Arthur’s Service Records show that he served in the Middle East from June 1941 to February 1942 (242 days). The balance of his active service (1292 days) was within Australia.
He was included on the Mt Compass Knitting Circle’s beneficiary list, receiving gift parcels of such items as knitted socks, mittens and scarves.
In January 1942, each of the ‘boys’ on the Circle’s list received a parcel containing a tin of fruit, a handkerchief, sweets and nuts. This group had been started by women from this district who wanted to knit items for those locals who were serving while also raising funds for comfort packages.
Unfortunately for Arthur, he suffered badly from cellulitus and other skin conditions while in the army, which saw him hospitalised a number of times with subsequent convalescence stays. When his Regiment was transferred to Indonesia in April 1945, Arthur remained in Australia, requiring further hospital treatment and periods of convalescence*.
Arthur Bollen was discharged on 26th October 1945.
Arthur and Jean (as she preferred to be known) had a son Graham Richard in 1943, while the war was still underway.
Upon his discharge, Arthur’s address was noted as Torrens Road, Croydon – where his wife was living at the time he was demobbed.
He passed away in 1961, aged 43.
*This is a quote from a booklet on the 2/2 Aust Casualty Clearing Station compiled by John Carne in 1994: “Unlike the Americans, whose green uniforms were dyed with a vegetable dye to which nobody was allergic, the Australian uniform was dyed with a green chemical that caused dermatitis.”
A number of those who are named on our Honour Roll did suffer badly from this condition.
References: www.ancestry.com.au, Service Records -NAA, trove.nla.gov.au, Mt Compass Archives, Victor Harbor RSL website profiles, 2/2 Australian CCS 1940-45 compiled by John Carne.
