| Full Name: |
Arthur Albert Atkins |
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| Rank Last Held: |
Sergeant |
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| Forename(s): |
Arthur Albert |
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| Surname: |
Atkins |
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| War: |
- South African War, 1899-1902
- World War I, 1914-1918
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| Serial No.: |
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| Gender: |
Male |
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| Date of Birth: |
10 January 1884 |
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| Place of Birth: |
Herder, India |
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| First Known Rank: |
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| Occupation before Enlistment: |
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| Next of Kin: |
- Mrs M. Nicholson, Ramarama, Auckland, New Zealand
- Miss Fanny Atkins (sister), The Mansion, Northcote, Auckland, New Zealand
- Mrs M.A. Nicholson (mother), Bay Road, Northcote, Auckland, New Zealand (WWI)
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| Marital Status: |
Single |
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| Enlistment Address: |
- The Mansion, Northcote, Auckland, New Zealand
- Christchurch, New Zealand
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| Military District: |
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| Body on Embarkation: |
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| Embarkation Unit: |
- 5 Contingent, 11 Company
- Canterbury Infantry Battalion
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| Embarkation Date: |
- 31 March 1900
- 16 October 1914
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| Place of Embarkation: |
- Wellington, New Zealand
- Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand
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| Transport: |
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| Vessel: |
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| Destination: |
- Beira, Portuguese East Africa
- Suez,Egypt (3 December 1914)
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| Nominal Roll Number: |
Vol1 |
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| Page on Nominal Roll: |
23 |
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| Other Units: |
- NZ Rhodesia Field Force Artillery
- 9 Contingent, F Squadron
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| Campaigns: |
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| Military Awards: |
- Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM)
- Queen's South Africa Medal (Cape Colony, Rhodesia, Transvaal, South Africa 1901 and South Africa 1902 Clasps)
- 1914-1915 Star
- War Medal
- Victory Medal
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| Award Circumstances: |
Distinguished Conduct Medal. "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty on the 7th August, 1915, during the attack on Chunuk Bair (Dardanelles). While advancing up a narrow gully with precipitous sides, his battalion suddenly came on a strongly defended post, which barred the way, and from which a heavy rifle fire was directed on the head of the column. Sergeant Atkins, getting his section in hand, without hesitation rushed the position, captured and held it. He displayed great bravery and coolness, and set a splendid example to all with him" London Gazette 29 November 1915, p11893 |
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| Wounds and Diseases: |
- 7 August 1915: Wounded at Gallipoli
- 8 September 1915: Wounded at Gallipoli
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| Discharge Date: |
10 May 1916 |
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| Last Unit Served: |
New Zealand Rifle Brigade |
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| Reason for Discharge: |
Wounded |
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| Place of Death: |
Hokitika, Westland, New Zealand |
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| Date of Death: |
22 November 1918 |
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| Age at Death: |
34 |
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| Year of Death: |
1918 |
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| Cemetery Name: |
Hokitika Cemetery, Westland District, New Zealand |
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| Grave Reference: |
Section 5, Row 13 |
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| Biographical Notes: |
- Served with 5th, 7th and 9th Contingents in South Africa 1900 to 1902 and Baden Powell Police 1903 to 1904 (Regt No 2341)
- 1916: Married Jessie Louisa Morgan
- Children: son, Arthur Albert, born 15 January 1917, died 15 January 1917; son, Sydney Arthur, born 11 March 1918, died 11 November 1994; daughter, Frances Joan, born 10 Feburary 1919.
- At the time of his death he was temporarily attached to permanent Staff
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| Archives NZ source: |
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| NZETC: |
New Zealand Electronic Text Centre topic page |
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| Further References: |
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| Sources Used: |
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission. URL: http://www.cwgc.org
- Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force Volume I. Wellington: Govt. Printer, 1914-1919
- Polaschek, A. (1983). The Complete New Zealand Distinguished Conduct Medal. Christchurch, Medals Research.
- Stowers, R. (2004). Rough riders at war. (3rd ed.) Hamilton, NZ, The Author.
- Correspondence with family
- Papers Past. Digital New Zealand Newspapers.
- Evening Post (Wellington)
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