Lance Corporal Arthur Benjamin CHING (1895-1918).
Service # 21655; Lance Corporal Canterbury Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion (C Company); 16th Reinforcements, New Zealand Expeditionary Forces (NZEF).
Son of John & Emily Ching of Spring Grove, Nelson District, South Island, New Zealand.
Prior to enlistment for war service Arthur Ching was employed as a Driver at Spring Grove, Nelson District, South Island, New Zealand.
Arthur Ching enlisted for war service - on 3 May 1916 - at Trentham Military Training Camp, Wellington, North Island, New Zealand.
At enlistment Arthur Ching was 21 years of age.
On enlistment day Arthur Ching was posted as a Private to the Canterbury Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, 16th Reinforcements, NZEF.
On 10 August 1916 Private Arthur Ching was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal.
On 21 August 1916 Lance Corporal Ching embarked for overseas war service - with the 16th Reinforcements NZEF - aboard HMNZT 62 "Mokoia" - from Port Chalmers, Dunedin, South Island, New Zealand.
On 24 October 1916 Lance Corporal Ching disembarked, from his transport ship, at Devonport, England.. He was marched into Sling Camp, at England, the same day.
On 15 November 1916 Lance Corporal Ching left England - for active war service - in France.
On 2 December 1916 Lance Corporal Arthur Ching joined his Battalion - the Canterbury Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion - in the field, France.
On 1 March 1917 Lance Corporal Ching was admitted, sick, to the New Zealand Field Ambulance, in the field - France. He re-joined his unit - in the field, France - on 1 April 1917.
On 29 May 1917 Lance Corporal Ching was wounded in action - in the field, France. On 6 June 1917 he was medically evacuated to hospital in England. On 17 April 1918 he was discharged to New Zealand Base Camp, at Etaples, France.
On 17 May 1918 Lance Corporal Ching re-joined his unit - the Canterbury Infantry Regiment. 2nd Battalion - in the field, France.
On 24 August 1918 Lance Corporal Arthur B. Ching was killed in action - in the field - at Bapaume, France.
At his death Lance Corporal Arthur B. Ching was 23 years of age.
Lance Corporal Arthur Ching is buried at Beaulencourt British Cemetery, Ligny-Thilloy, Pas de Calais, France (Ref: 111.H.15).
Lance Corporal Arthur B. Ching is also remembered at his hometown in New Zealand - on the Wakefield District War Memorial (1914-1918) - at Wakefield. Nelson District, South Island, New Zealand.
For Lance Corporal Arthur B. Ching's full military profile, and access to his personal military file, refer to New Zealand Online Cenotaph : www.aucklandmuseum.com
Photo Credit : Auckland War Memorial Museum : www.aucklandmuseum.com
Jenifer Everett