Arthur Kingston Rosenthal

Service number: 50

Rank: Private

Unit: 1 Light Horse Field Ambulance Australian Army Medical Corps

Service: Australian Army

Date of death: 29 May 1915

Cause of death: Illness (Enteric fever)

Cemetery or memorial details: EGYPT 5 Chatby Jewish Cemetery

War Grave Register notes:

ROSENTHALL, Pte. Arthur Kingston, 50. 1st L.H. Field Amb. Australian Army Medical Corps. Died of enteric 29th May, 1915. Age 33. Born at Sydney, New South Wales. Son of Rebecca Rosebery (formerly Rosenthall), of Huron, Sydney Rd., Manly, New South Wales, and the late Maurice Rosenthall.

Source: AWM145 Roll of Honour cards, 1914-1918 War, Army

Arthur Rosenthal was born in Petersham in 1882, to Maurice and Rebecca Rosenthal. From 1902–1905, Maurice Rosenthal was licensee of the Steyne Hotel, Manly. When the license was transferred to Charles Burchmore in 1906, the Rosenthal family remained at North Steyne, Manly. Arthur was a renowned swimmer and diver, and one of the early pioneering figures in achieving all-day bathing. He saved many lives in surf rescues; he once leapt from the top deck of a Manly ferry to save a woman overboard. This occurred on Saturday 22 August 1903; the woman he saved, an Ellen Walsh, later died in hospital [1]. For the rescue he was awarded the special certificate of the Royal Life Saving Society and the silver medal of the Royal Humane Society [2]. He was awarded bronze, silver and gold medals of the Humane Society [3]. 

Arthur captained the Manly Rugby Union Club team and was also an amateur boxer and wrestler. He was an active participant ‘lifesaving’ at the stranding of the French barque “Vincennes” on Manly Beach on 24th May 1906:

“A young Manly resident, Rosenthal, dived in and hauled the Frenchmen [capsized from the ship’s gig] ashore amid cheers from the spectators.”[4].

Arthur became a student at Hawkesbury Agricultural College, where he studied to be a farmer, but on the outbreak of WWI, he enlisted in September 1914, aged 32. He joined the 41st Infantry. His address was given as 25 James Street, Manly. He died of fever at Alexandria the following year (24 July 1915). His name is recorded on the War Memorial in the Corso as Rosenthall [sic], Pte A.K. An obituary was published in the Town and Country Journal, 11 August 1915, p.40.A contributor to the Manly Daily noted:

" Arthur Kingston Rosenthal will be best remembered in Manly as a swimmer, diver and footballer, as ‘Rosey the Sport’. Frequenters of football matches and swimming carnivals in Manly, or even Sydney, will well remember Arthur Rosenthal. In swimming he always led the Seagulls as an exhibition diving troupe. His lead, dressed as a clown, was always a difficult one to follow, as the man who followed never knew what Rosey was going to do. He was always the chief feature in a Manly swimming carnival programme. ‘Rosey’ will also be remembered as the captain of the Manly Football Team. At all times, in the front of the forwards doing his best, he always had the strength of his team, and his cry ‘Now then, forwards, buck in!’ has been heard for the last time on the Manly Oval. Arthur Rosenthal, at the time of his death from typhoid at Egypt, was 30 years of age, and was born at Enmore. When he left Sydney to enlist he was in business at Batlow. The residents made him many presents when he left, on account of the impression he made of his worth as a resident. In camp he made his name as a horseman and a capital shot – he beat the band.’”

[1]Adelaide Advertiser, 24 August 1903.

[2] SMH 7 November 1905.

[3] A Biographical Register, 1788-1939, vol 2, p.229; SMH 23 October 1903, p4. For the feat he was awarded the bronze medal of the Royal Shipwreck Relief Society.4Quoted in Manly Daily, 10 Dec, 1970; SMH 26 May 1906 gives a fuller account.

[4] Quoted in Manly Daily, 10 Dec, 1970; SMH 26 May 1906 gives a fuller account.