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| 13th Hussars in Mesopotamia, 1917. Source: British Empire. |
Arthur MacGregor Le Patourel was a grazier with substantial land and stock holdings when war was declared. It took nearly 12 months after that declaration to sell his land and stock so that he could enlist.
Why he chose to travel under his own steam from Australia to enlist with the 13th Hussars in the British Army remains a mystery at this stage. He had served as a private in the 3rd Victorian Bushmen Contingent during the South African War. As a man of substance and prior campaign experience, and aged 36, he would have received a commission in the AIF as readily as the British Army, though a British Army commission had more prestige. He may have responded to an invitation from a friend or relative.
After the war Arthur returned to Essendon, in time moving from Essendon to Sunbury.