Ken Arthur has been shown on the In Memoriam list of the 105th Battery Association since 2007. Recently Arthur Burke received good and bad news of Ken. The good was that he did not pass away in 2006 – the bad was that he did pass away on 25 January 2011.

Kenneth Franz Ashby (Ken) Arthur was born in Rosewater SA on 20.5.1936 which led to his being called up for  National  Service as an 18 year old in 1955. After three months of full-time training, Ken persuaded his parents to allow him to join the Australian Regular Army.

This was fortuitous as at that time, a new battery had just been raised for service as Australia’s first artillery unit to serve in the Malayan Emergency. This, of course, was 105th Field Battery and Ken completed a full tour of duty in Malaya with the Tigers – from 17.9.1956 till 31.10.1957.

His B Troop Commander Captain (later Brigadier) Ray Sunderland AM recalls communications difficulties on operations. The high frequency radio set had to bounce its signals off the ionosphere which was a very delicate art. Ray’s memoirs record, ‘Ken Arthur was one of the few signalmen who had the skill, patience and persistence to maintain communication under this conditions’.

On return to Australia, Ken remained with 1st Field Regiment at Holsworthy before serving with the Royal Tasmanian Regiment. He completed his six-year engagement and took discharge on 28.7.1961.

Ken then turned his mind to anything that paid money in Whyalla and Tennant Creek before joining Uniroyal Tyres and marrying Joyce. He became a strong and hard working union rep before going back to college and training as a cook, then working as camp cook with road construction crews. He retired to Port Vincent SA, train modelling and talking to schools on the ANZAC tradition. For these endeavours and to the RSL, he was awarded an Australia Remembers citation and Australia Day Medal.

Ken Arthur was fiercely proud of his service with the Tiger Battery and when he heard of the formation of the 105th Battery Association, became an early member. His daughter, Judy tells of how he looked forward to receiving ‘Tiger Rag’ and in fact, became a regular correspondent to the Editor.

Unfortunately, in 1997 when Ken moved closer to Adelaide to be closer to his family, he did not advise the 105th Battery Association of this change of address and in 2006, someone told the secretary that ken had passed away.

It was only when his daughter phoned Arthur Burke to advise the death of her father on 25.1.2011 and her desire to receive future copies of ‘Tiger Rag’ that the true history of Ken came to light.

Ken is survived by his sisters Jan and Jo and daughters Judy, Christine and Jennifer.

Vale Kenneth Franz Ashby (Ken) Arthur – fiercely proud Tiger, a person of many talents and a loving family man. Gone to the Great Gun Park at 74 years of age.