Arthur C. N. Olden

History

Arthur Charles Niquet Olden (1881-1949), soldier and dentist, was born on 3 July 1881 at Ballarat, Victoria, eighth child of Swedish mining agent Olaf Samuel Olden and his Queensland-born wife Sophia Louisa, née Niquet. Arthur was educated at Ballarat College and went on to study dentistry.

With the outbreak of war in 1914 Olden enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 28 October and in February 1915 embarked for Egypt as lieutenant with 'C' Squadron, 10th Light Horse Regiment. He landed at ANZAC on 20 May and was twice wounded—in May and July, missing the charge at The Nek. Promoted captain and major early in 1916, he was detached to other units for much of the Sinai campaign but returned to the 10th Lighthorse Regiment for the Gaza-Beersheba operations of 1917, briefly assuming command when the two senior officers were wounded. In the ill-starred trans-Jordan operations of 30 April to 4 May 1918, Major Olden (now second-in-command) directed two squadrons in a dismounted bayonet-charge against a Turkish redoubt guarding Es Salt. The action was superbly executed and enabled the 8th L.H.R. to capture the town. Subsequently Olden's squadrons held a large enemy force on the Amman road until ordered to withdraw.

Legacy

The World War One service of Arthur Charles Olden is recognised on the Ballarat Avenue of Honour.

External links

Australian Dictionary of Biography listing - http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/olden-arthur-charles-7899

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--Beth Kicinski 09:19, 24 August 2013 (EST); --Clare K.Gervasoni 23:40, 30 October 2017 (AEDT)