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Kā Kōrero o Waikirikiri Selwyn Stories

Lance Corporal Arthur Leslie Cooper

Description

TitleLance Corporal Arthur Leslie CooperSummaryA soldier in World War One. DescriptionArthur Leslie, known as Leslie, was born at Christchurch on 3 May 1891, son of Arthur and Clara Jane Cooper. Before enlisting he was working as a farm labourer for P. Clinton at Springston. He was 6ft and ½in tall with a dark complexion, grey eyes and brown hair.

Leslie enlisted at Trentham on 29 May 1915 and was assigned to the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 2nd Battalion. He embarked 9 October on board the Rakaia. Whilst on board he was fined 5 days pay for smoking and carrying his rifle slung whilst on sentry duty. He arrived in Egypt 18 November 1915 and joined the 3rd Rifle Brigade on 21 November and proceeded to Ismailia on 17 January 1916. He was admitted to hospital briefly at Ismailia in February. He embarked for France from Alexandria on 6 April 1916. He was wounded in action, suffering a scalp wound on 22 July and was admitted to No.8 Stationary Hospital for treatment. He was back at the depot at Etaples by 30 July 1916. He re-joined his unit on 7 August but was wounded again this time a shell wound to his side on the 15 September but after treatment re-joined his unit on the 20 September. He was detached to a Canadian unit on 4th May, presumably to train or be trained, re-joining his unit on 19 and the same day he was detached for duty with the CRE. However on 23 May he was sent to hospital sick. Taken up by the field ambulance with a headache by the time he got to No.13 Field Hospital it was called “debility” and then at the time he boarded the Hospital Ship St Patrick it was diagnosed as “trench fever”. This is a disease borne by body lice that was first recognized in the trenches of World War I, when it is estimated to have affected more than a million people. The disease is classically a 5-day fever. The onset of symptoms is sudden with high fever, severe headache, back pain and leg pain and a fleeting rash. He was admitted to No.1 General Hospital at Brockenhurst on 2 July and then the Convalescent Hospital at Hornchurch on 4 September. Further investigation showed that he had chronic pulmonary tuberculosis and the medical board placed him on the unfit roll on 14 November 1917. He embarked for New Zealand on board the Maheno departing on 24 December 1917. Trench fever was listed as a cause but also that he had been infected with Tuberculosis. He was discharged on 16 July 1918 as no longer physically fit for service. He died at the Cashmere Sanatorium, Christchurch on 28 June 1920. He was accorded a military funeral at the Sydenham Cemetery, on Thursday, July 1st. Many beautiful wreaths were placed on the coffin, amongst them being one from the pupils of the Loburn District School, with whom the late soldier was a great favourite. Leslie is remembered on the Springston War Memorial and the Ashburton War Memorial.

The Sydenham Cemetery records give his address as The Military Sanitorium and his occupation as Retired soldier aged 29. The Sanitorium was established on the Cashmere Hills in 1918 and closed in 1922First NameArthur LeslieLast NameCooperFamilySingleSon of Arthur and Clara Jane CooperDate of Birth3 May 1891Place of BirthChristchurchDate of Death28 June 1920Place of DeathChristchurchCause of DeathDied of SicknessAge at Death29

Connections

CollectionSoldiers of Selwyn World War OneImageSpringston War MemorialMore InformationAuckland War Memorial Cenotaph

Military Service

Memorial or CemeteryAshburton War MemorialSpringston War Memorial Sydenham CemeteryOccupation before EnlistingFarm LabourerRegiment or ServiceNew Zealand Rifle BrigadeEnlistment Details29th May 1915Service Number24/723 Embarkation9th October 1915CountryNew Zealand

Attribution

Researched ByL. M. Seaton

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Lance Corporal Arthur Leslie Cooper