Arthur Wheen
Arthur Wesley Wheen, was an Australian soldier, translator and museum librarian. He is best known for translating the works of Erich Maria Remarque into English, beginning with the classic war novel All Quiet on the Western Front in 1929.
Early life and education
He was the son of Clara and Harold Wheen, who was a Wesleyan Minister. His father was transferred to Sydney in 1910, where young Arthur attended Gordon Public School and Sydney Boys High School. In 1915, he won admission to Sydney Teachers College and later attended the University of Sydney, where he studied the fine arts.First World War
Wheen was eighteen years and eight months old when he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 15 October 1915. Two months later, he embarked as a reinforcement for the 1st Australian Battalion and arrived in Egypt when the Australian Army in Egypt was being expanded from two to four divisions. He was transferred to the newly formed 54th Battalion of the 5th Australian Division where he served as a signaller. The battalion trained at a military base near Tel-el-Kebir before moving with the rest of the division to France in June 1916.He was awarded the Military Medal for braving enemy artillery barrages to repair telephone lines and maintain communications at Fromelles in July 1916. Later, two bars would be added to his medal, one at Beaulencourt in 1917 and the second at Villers-Bretonneux in 1918. He was one of only fifteen Australians to receive three Military Medals. He was appointed lance corporal in January 1918 and promoted corporal a week later. Later in 1918 he attended an officers' training course in Oxford and was commissioned lieutenant in August. He was twice wounded. Wheen was invalided to England in September 1918 and returned to Australia reaching Sydney on 5 January 1919.