Arthur James Gittings

Born 10 Nov 1894 - Died 20 Sept 1916

Service number: WWI 2/2625 AWMM
Also known as: —
Armed force / branch: Army AWMM
Last rank: WW1 Gunner/Military AWMM New Zealand Field Artillery AWMM
War: World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM

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Framed commercial portrait of Gunner Arthur James Gittings in uniform. Image kindly provided by Te Manawa (86-135-430). Image has no known copyright restrictions. No Known Copyright Restrictions

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Biographical information

Son of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Gittings, of 44, Wrexham Rd., Bow, London, England.

"Gunner A.J. Gittings, 2/2625, died on Wednesday, September 20th, at the N.Z. Hospital at Brockenhurst. He was suffering from gunshot wounds in the head. He was buried at 3.30 p.m. on Monday, September 25th, at Woodgrange Park Cemetery. The cortege left the house of his next-of-kin, 44 Wroxham Road, Bow, E. There were several wreaths." (Chronicles of the N.Z.E.F. September 29, 1916 p. 57) AWMM
Arthur was born in London, England. While his family remained there he had come out to New Zealand about 1910 aged 15 to live with his aunt, Mrs HC Collinson [wife of Henry Collinson of the Collinson & Sons hardware store; Henry was brother of the founder of the Collinson & Cunninghame Ltd department store, Palmerston North where Arthur was working].

Arthur died in England in September 1916 as the result of wounds received in France. He was the first staff member from the Collinson & Cunninghame store to be killed in World War I.

The Manawatu Times newspaper [25 September 1916 page 2] reports: 'Of a genial and generous disposition, Gunner Gittings was a general favourite in the store, taking a keen interest in the staff hockey and cricket club. He was an active worker in All Saints' Church where he was a choir member, Sunday school teacher and lay reader. The first of this firm's staff to fall, he will long be remembered for his fine character'.

The Manawatu Times newspaper [27 September 1916] further reports: 'Of melancholy interest was an unusual window display at Messrs Collinson and Cunninghame's yesterday. With an artistic eye to detail an appropriate setting had been arranged in the window to commemorate the death of the first of the firm's staff to fall at the front in the person of the late Gunner A.J. Gittings, a popular young fellow well-known in local sports circles, who had died from wounds. There was a photograph of the deceased hero - he was only 19 - surrounded by laurel leaves set off with a background of two imitation guns. This was overhung with the half-furled flags of the Allies, the Union Jack lying loosely at the foot of the photograph. Three rifles interlocked with set bayonets completed the picture. In another corner wreathed with laurel leaves was a simple tribute that said more than verbose panegyric. It was a card bearing this inscription: 'He died for his country'.
Public - Cindy - Researcher - 24 May 2016 - The Manawatu Times newspaper [25 September 1916 page 2]

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Arthur James Gittings

Arthur James Gittings

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