Arthur Edward Caldwell (23 February 1886 – 26 July 1915) was an Australian rules footballer who played for the St Kilda Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

He served overseas in the First AIF. He was badly wounded in action at Gallipoli on 14 July 1915, and died of his wounds on 18 July 1915.

Family The son of Thomas Caldwell and Agnes Caldwell (1854–1907), née Smith,Deaths: Caldwell, The Leader, (Saturday, 28 December 1907), p.51 Arthur Edward Caldwell was born at Young, New South Wales on 23 February 1886.

Siblings He had nine brothers and sisters, including: Robert John Caldwell (1876–1927): Williamstown footballer.Robert John Caldwell, The VFA Project; Deaths: Caldwell, The Age, (Monday, 8 August 1927), p.1 Thomas Campbell Caldwell (1879–1960): served in the First AIF, and was awarded the Military Medal in 1917.World War One Service Record: Private Thomas Campbell Caldwell (1684), National Archives of Australia James McIlwrick Caldwell (1888–1929): South Melbourne, Williamstown, Footscray (VFA), and Perth footballer. Joseph Albury Caldwell (1893–1966): served in the First AIF.World War One Service Record: Private Joseph Albury Caldwell (1786), National Archives of Australia

Football

Williamstown (VFA) He played 84 games for Williamstown in the Victorian Football Association (VFA) over eight seasons (1902 to 1910).The VFA Project.

In the Final match of the 1907 VFA season, played on 28 September 1907, in which Williamstown won the VFA Premiership, 7.10 (52), against West Melbourne 3.15 (34), Arthur Caldwell played on one wing, and his brother, Jim, played on the other.Melbourne Association Final, The (Sydney) Sunday Sun, (Sunday, 29 September 1907), p.14

St Kilda (VFL) Caldwell made his debut for St Kilda in the 1909 VFL season, playing eight games.

Military service Employed as a compositor for the Williamstown Advertiser, Caldwell enlisted in the Australian Imperial Forces (AIF) at the beginning of World War I, served in the 4th Battalion and was sent overseas to Gallipoli.

Death After being severely wounded (gunshot wounds in spine and arm) on 14 July 1915 in the fighting at Gallipoli,61st Casualty List. Caldwell was evacuated to Malta on 18 July 1915.

He died in a military hospital in Valletta on 26 July 1915.62nd Casualty List.Roll of Honour: Personal Particulars: Private A. E. Caldwell, The Argus, (Friday, 13 August 1915), p.13

He is buried at the Addolorata Cemetery, in Malta.Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

See also List of Victorian Football League players who died on active service List of Australian rules football families

Footnotes

References

Holmesby, Russell & Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers. 7th ed. Melbourne: Bas Publishing. Arthur Edward Caldwell: Sons of Williamstown. The St Kilda Football Team, The Leader, (Saturday, 15 May 1909), p. 28 Caldwell is the St Kilda player seated cross-legged on the ground at the right of the front row, just in front of the football. First World War Nominal Roll: Private Arthur Edward Caldwell (1728), collection of the Australian War Memorial. First World War Embarkation Roll: Private Arthur Edward Caldwell (1728), collection of the Australian War Memorial. World War One Service Record: Private Arthur Edward Caldwell (1728), National Archives of Australia Roll of Honour Circular: Private Arthur Edward Caldwell (1728), Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour: Private Arthur Edward Caldwell (1728), Australian War Memorial Australian Casualties: 61st List Issued: Severely Wounded: New South Wales, The Argus, (Saturday, 7 August 1915), p. 15 Australian Casualties: 62nd List Issued: Died of Wounds: New South Wales, The Argus, (Tuesday, 10 August 1915), p. 4 Private Arthur Edward Caldwell (1728), Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

External links

Arthur Caldwell, The VFA Project. Grave Headstone, Addolorata Cemetery, Malta, Collection of Australian War Museum.