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Private Arthur Albert Mears

Private Arthur Albert Mears
Private Arthur Albert Mears

WARNING:  Photos and content on this webpage are confronting and are about war wounds and pioneering plastic surgery.

Arthur Alfred Mears (born Ernest Arthur Albert Mears) was the sixth child of Alfred Thomas and Mary Ann Mears of Granton, Tasmania. He was a 27-year-old miner and still living in Tasmania when he enlisted with the Australian Imperial Forces (AIF) in August 1914. Two of Arthur’s brothers, Leslie and Clarence, also enlisted with the AIF.

Arthur served with the 12th Battalion throughout the war; first in Gallipoli, where he was temporarily transferred to the Brigade Headquarters, and then in France after re-joining his battalion. In October 1916, Arthur was awarded the Military Medal for ‘bravery in the field.’

In May 1917, Arthur was hospitalised for gunshot wounds to the left buttock and shrapnel wound to the right hip. Although the wound was serious enough for him to be sent to the No. 6 Australian General Hospital, he returned to his unit two weeks later.

Arthur’s second wounding in September 1917 was more serious as he suffered a gunshot wound to the left jaw that resulted in the loss of his chin and mandible. Arthur was eventually transferred to the Queen’s Hospital, Sidcup, England in October 1917 for treatment.

Pioneering plastic surgery was performed at Sidcup, where Dr Harold Gillies developed the first skin grafting and plastic surgery techniques to treat the World War One soldiers left wounded with severe facial disfigurements.  Arthur’s father was told by telegram in October 1917 that he was ‘improving’ and by November 1917 he was pronounced ‘out of danger.’

Arthur continued his treatment at Sidcup for the whole of the next year, although he does not appear to have been staying permanently at the hospital as he was granted leave for short periods in between being admitted to the hospital. His father was sent telegrams stating that he was ‘improving.’

Despite his lengthy treatment, Arthur died on 7 March 1919 from cardiac syncope after an operation to graft part of his rib onto his face. He was buried in the Australian Military Burial Ground, Brockwood with full military honours, but unfortunatley none of his family was able to attend.  They were however sent a brief description of the proceedings.

Arthur’s brother Clarence also died from wounds in 1917, but fortunately Leslie returned to Australia in 1919.

Information about Arthur Mears was provided by the Museum of Melbourne.  Arthur Mears is a subject in the exhibition WW1 Love and Sorrow at Melbourne Museum.

The images were reproduced with permission of the Royal Australasia College of Surgeons.

Private Arthur Mears' medical notes (PDF)

Medical diagrams for Private Mears (PDF)