UPFIELD Arthur William
soldier and author 1888-1964

Arthur Upfield was born on 1 September 1890 to draper James Oliver Upfield at Gosport Hampshire. He served with the Hampshire Yeomanry for five years while studying to become a real estate agent, but failing exams was sent to Australia in 1910 where became an apprentice surveyor.

In 1914 he enlisted as a driver in 5 Coy AASC (1 LH Bde Train), serving in with the AIF in Egypt, Gallipoli, England and France. On return from Gallipoli he married nurse Anne Douglas in Alexandria in November 1915. He was transferred to UK 1916 where he bacame a clerk in AIF HQ, rising to the rank of lance-sergeant. Seeking further active service, he was posted to 17 Coy AASC in France in 1918, but was invalided back to UK a month later. He took his discharge in England in September 1919.

Returning to Australia with his wife and son in 1921 he became a bushman, travelling extensively and absorbing aboriginal culture which provided the basis for his successful books of detective fiction featuring half-caste Detective Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte of the Queensland Police: this theme was the basis for a 26-episode TV series Boney, produced by Fauna Productions (who also produced Skippy the Bush Kangaroo). His series of publications stretched from 1928 to a posthumous one in 1966.

He also became a member of the Australian Geological Society and was involved in several geological exploration expeditions in north and west Australia. He died at Bowral 12 February 1964.