Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Archibald Corrie Himing, known as Archie, was born on 13 February 1876 at Clapton, England, the son of Horace Corrie and Selina Austin (née Hartley) Himing. He was baptised on 19 March 1876 at St Matthew’s, Upper Clacton. Archibald was at home with his parents and sister Elsie in 1881. In 1891 he was a student at Berkhampstead. Both Horace and Selina remarried in 1900. Horace died in 1906 at Lifton, Devonshire and Selina, who had been admitted the Holloway Sanatorium in 1896, died in 1902 in London. Archibald Himing married Florence Maud Burch in 1897 in London. Their first child – Elsie Lilian Himing – was born in 1899 in Middlesex. When Elsie was baptised in 1903, Archibald’s occupation was given as tram conductor. In 1901 Archibald enlisted for service in the South African War, naming his wife as next-of-kin – Florence Corrie Himing, Holloway. Two more daughters were born to Archibald and Florence – Maud Marion Himing in 1904 and Louisa Emily Himing in 1906 (Archibald a bus conductor), and a son – Horace Archibald Himing in 1908. In 1911 Elsie, Maud and Louisa were all boarders at Acton. In late May 1915, men were “offering more freely” at Timaru. A. C. Himing, Pareora East, was one of those who had passed the medical test and had signed on to leave Timaru for Trentham by special train on 29 May. He was one of the men given a rousing farewell when they went north to the concentration camp at Trentham in late May 1915. After afternoon tea in the Drill Shed and an address by the Mayor, amidst much cheering from the crowds, they were played to the railway Station by the Regimental Band and joined recruits from the south (Invercargill, Dunedin and Oamaru) on a very long special troop train. Archibald Corrie Himing gave his address as Freezing-works, Pareora East. He declared that he was single. It would appear that Archibald and Florence were estranged, and when their daughter Louisa married in 1929 in England, she stated that her father was deceased. He named his sister as next-of-kin – Miss E. Himing, care of Messrs. Hill and Sons, Bankers, West Smithfield, London, England. He had served not only with the City of London Rough Riders in the South African War, but also for seven years in the Rhodesian Field Force. Rifleman A. C. Himing embarked with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade per the “Tahiti’, departing from Wellington for Suez on 9 October 1915. Rifleman A. C. Himing was wounded, as reported on 29 September 1916. He was invalided home, returning by the “Maunganui on 17 March 1917, and was discharged on 11 June 1917. A. C. Himing was elected a member of the Returned Soldiers’ Association at Timaru in June 1917. He married Gladys Holland in May 1918 at Christchurch and enlisted again, on 6 August 1918 at Christchurch. His next-of-kin was now his wife – Mrs Gladys Himing, C/o Mrs Logan, 43 Mein Street, Newtown, Wellington. He was assessed fit for Home Service as Military Policeman. On discharge on 8 December 1918, his next-of-kin was Mrs Gladys Himing, C/o Returned Soldiers Club, Christchurch. Archibald Corrie Himing, a war pensioner, died on 13 July 1955 at Christchurch – “Late N.Z.E.F. and Boer War veteran.” He was cremated at the Canterbury Crematorium where there is a plaque for him and Gladys, who died in 1964, in the Memorial Gardens. They were survived by their daughter (Elsie Feona) and son (Leslie Corrie). Archie’s sister, Elsie Himing, who was incapacitated and living in an institution, died in 1940 at Salisbury, England.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [16 May 2022]; Timaru Herald, 26 & 31 May 1915, 11 June 1917, Press, 14 July 1955, 5 September 1964 (Papers Past) [14, 19 & 22 May 2022]; Canterbury Memorial Gardens and Crematorium (Find A Grave) [16 May 2022]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [20 May 2022]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

No documents available. 

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC branch NZSG

Currently Assigned to

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