Arnold McGhie was the son of Mrs. S. E. McGhie, of Main Rd., Upper Hutt, New Zealand. Served on the Western Front, 1917.
Enlisted with rank of private and posted to B Company, 21st Reinforcements, Trentham Camp, Upper Hutt, 18 September 1916. Transferred to J Company, 21st Reinforcements, 4 October 1916; transferred to Trentham Camp Details, 28 October 1916; transferred to Featherston Camp Details, Wairarapa, 1 November 1916; transferred to J Company, 21st Reinforcements, 2 November 1916. Proceeded overseas from Wellington with 21st Reinforcements on board HMNZT 'Waitemata', 19 January 1917.
Disembarked Devonport, England, marched into Sling Camp and taken on strength 5th (Reserve) Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade, and posted to B Company, 28 March 1917. Taken on strength 3rd Battalion, Wellington Infantry Regiment, and posted to 7th (Wellington West Coast) Company, Codford, 24 April 1917. Proceeded overseas with unit for France, 28 May 1917.
Admitted to 4th New Zealand Field Ambulance, in the field, and transferred to No 53 Casualty Clearing Station, 10 July 1917 (mumps); admitted to No 7 General Hospital, St Omer, 11 July 1917; discharged from hospital and rejoined unit in the field, 6 September 1917.
Admitted to 133rd Field Ambulance in the field, 22 November 1917 (severe dysentery); transferred to No 53 Casualty Clearing Station, 27 November 1917; admitted to No 14 Stationary Hospital, 29 November 1917; evacuated to England onboard HMHS 'Jan Breydel', 9 December 1917. Arrived in England and admitted to Bermondsey Military Hospital, London, 12 December 1917; transferred to Enteric Depot, Barton, 22 January 1918; transferred to New Zealand Convalescent Hospital, Hornchurch, 27 February 1918; discharged from New Zealand Convalescent Hospital, Hornchurch, and attached to New Zealand Command Depot, Codford, 23 March 1918. Marched out from New Zealand Command Depot, Codford, and marched into Sling Camp, 10 October 1918.
Admitted to No 2 New Zealand General Hospital, Walton-on-Thames, 30 January 1919 (Not Yet Diagnosed, later updated to insomnia); discharged from No 2 New Zealand General Hospital, 19 February 1919; reported to Sling Camp, 5 March 1919.
Admitted to No 3 New Zealand General Hospital, Codford, 26 March 1919 (neurasthenia); discharged to New Zealand Command Depot, Codford, 3 April 1919.
Marched in to Wellington Provincial Detachment, Sling Camp, 1 May 1919.
Admitted to Military Hospital, Tidworth, 5 May 1919 (cut throat, self-inflicted); discharged to duty, 26 May 1919.
Commenced return to New Zealand from Plymouth, England, on board HMNZT 'Kigoma', 31 May 1919.
Disembarked in Wellington, New Zealand, 15 July 1919. Died at Upper Hutt from self-inflicted wounds, 16 July 1919.
Northern Advocate, 17 July 1919, page 3.
'Private A. J. McGee (sic), aged 34, who returned by the Kigoma on Tuesday, was found dead at noon yesterday, shot through the heart. He left his mother's home at Maoribank, Upper Hutt, taking a shot-gun with him, and saying that he was going to shoot a hawk. As he did not return a search was made, and the body found about half a mile from home. A note was found near the body indicating McGee's (sic) intention to shoot himself.'
Mother: Mrs S E McGhie, Main Road, Upper Hutt. Served on the Western Front, 1917 AWMM