Wilfred Arthur honoured at SCOTS

Wilfred Stanley Arthur was born in the small farming community of Yelarbon on December 7, 1919. He was the eldest son of S & K Arthur, a small farmer and local tick inspector for the border district.
Wilfred was educated at the small State Primary School at Yelarbon where he stood out in scholarly achievements and, as a young gentleman, well liked by all. In 1935 he entered SCOTS College as a boarding student and graduated in 1938 after a very distinguished academic, sporting and leadership career.
Wilf’s achievements at the college became legendary as he received Colours in rugby, cricket, athletics, swimming and lifesaving and tennis. He was appointed school captain in 1937 as a Year 10 student and retained this position until his graduation in 1938. He was also captain of School House, editor of “The Clansman” and a Cadet Lieutenant in the College Cadet Corps from 1936 to 1938. On graduation from the college in 1938, he was awarded the following prizes:-
(a)  The Clansman Prize
(b)  The Old Scots Collegians Association Prize
(c)  Rhodes Scholarship Qualification
(d)  P A Affleck Prize for School Captain
(e)  SCOTS College Prize for Tennis Singles and Doubles Champion
While at the college he acquired the affectionate nickname of “Bandy”, and was very much adored by the student body. It was a sad day for all when he graduated from SCOTS in December, 1938.
After leaving SCOTS in 1938, Wilfred applied to join the RAAF and in April 1940, started his initial flying training at Archerfield in Brisbane. After successful completion of his training, Wilf gained his Wings and was immediately posted to No 3 Squadron in the Middle East.
It was here that Wilf immediately made his presence felt as a highly skilled pilot flying Gladiator and Tomahawk fighter planes to deadly effect. He had now acquired the RAAF nickname of “Woof” and was quickly promoted to Flight Lieutenant as his leadership qualities came to the fore. He was mentioned in dispatches and on November 30, 1941, led a flight of Tomahawk aircraft over Bir el Gobi and in a subsequent action, personally shot down two German and two Italian aircraft before he himself was shot down and crash-landed his aircraft within sight of the Tobruk fortress. He quickly borrowed a Hurricane aircraft and flew it back to his home base. For this action Wilf was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. It was here that another old boy of SCOTS, John Jackson, of later New Guinea fame with 75 Squadron, commented that “Wilf Arthur was one of the finest air aces in the RAAF”.
It was in the Middle East when Wilf was recovering from burns as a result of a further action that he met a young Armenian-American girl called Lucille Petraki. Wilf and Lucille married after a brief courtship and was now posted back to Australia to join No 76 Squadron in New Guinea. He managed to smuggle Lucille on board a troopship bound for Australia while he took up his new position and promotion to Squadron Leader.
On May 25, 1943, Wilf experienced his