Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Arnold was born at Orari, South Canterbury, on 22 September 1895, the son of Alfred & Catherine Elizabeth (nee Moore) Pierce. When he enlisted on 6 January 1915, he was a member of B Company, 2nd South Canterbury Regiment, and was working as a labourer at Orari, for Mr G.A. McDonald. He was described as being Anglican, aged 19, single, 5 foot 10 inches tall, weighing 162 lbs, his chest measuring 34 ½ inches, of fair complexion, grey eyes, brown hair, with good lower teeth and false uppers. His father, Mr A. Pierce of Orari, was listed as his next of kin. After initial training, Private Pierce of the Canterbury Infantry Battalion, left Wellington on 17 April 1915, with the 4th Reinforcements aboard either the Willochra, Knight Templar, or Waitomo, bound for Suez, Egypt. After serving in Egypt, Arnold joined his unit at Gallipoli on 8 June 1915. On 14 June he was admitted to the Hospital Ship HMS Newmarket and transferred to No 2 Stationary Hospital on the island of Mudros. July 16 saw him sent to hospital in Malta and on 14 September he was transferred to England and admitted into Bethnal Green Hospital. On 7 March 1916 he was taken on strength of NZ Base Depot at Grey Towers and on 19 July promoted to Lance Corporal and posted to the NZ Pay Corps. On 18 September he was again admitted to the NZ Convalescent Hospital at Hornchurch. During this time he was being treated for tuberculosis, and on 24 November 1916, was taken on strength of the Convalescent Hospital, Hornchurch to work with the venereal patients. Arnold was again admitted to the TB ward at Codford on 22 January 1917, until 26 August, when he was transferred to No 3 NZ General Hospital. Classified as unfit for further military duties on 19 September, he embarked for return to NZ aboard SS Marama on 21 November, arriving home on 31 December 1917. His discharge from the army followed on 28 January 1918, as unfit for further military service through illness contracted on active service. In total Arnold had served 3 years and 23 days, which earned him the 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. Arnold returned to Orari and, in 1922, married Miss Ellen McLean. In 1935 he was employed by the NZ Railways at Lyttelton. He then moved to Taihape, where he was to spend the rest of his working life as a shunter and guard. He died there on 24 September 1958, aged 63, and is buried in the Taihape Cemetery.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [16 September 2016], NZ Drfence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ ref, AABK 18805 W5539 00398120.[26 September 2016].

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

No documents available. 

Researched and Written by

Dianne Hall

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.