Source: British Home Children Who Died in the First World War and German trench raid May 28/17 research.
Family Search: When Private Joseph Kimbling was born on 15 August 1896, in Islington, London, England, United Kingdom, his father, William James Kimbling, was 40 and his mother, Nellie Meriam, was 34. He immigrated to Portland, Cumberland, Maine, United States in 1905. He registered for military service in 1915. In 1915, at the age of 19, his occupation is listed as farmer. He died on 29 May 1917, in Arleux-en-Gohelle, Pas-de-Calais, France, at the age of 20, and was commemorated at Vimy, Pas-de-Calais, France.
Private Joseph Kimbling, reg. no. 745110.
This man enlisted on 3 November 1915 with the 116th Battalion at Port Perry, Ontario. He was a Presbyterian farmer.
During his service, he was treated for varicocele at Oshawa General Hospital. He was admitted for treatment on 12 April 1916 and released on 28 April 1916. He then got tonsillitis on 4 July 1916 while at Niagara Camp at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario.
He had a clean record during his time with the 116th when it was in Canada, and he sailed with his battalion on 23 July 1916 from Halifax, Nova Scotia, arriving at Liverpool on 31 July 1917.
He was Struck Off Strength to the 18th Battalion on 5 October 1916 and was sent overseas to No. 1 Canadian Base Depot at Harve, France, the next day. He arrived at the 18th Battalion on the 22nd of that month. Before he was sent to the front line, he suffered from tonsillitis and was once again being admitted to No. 7 Canadian Stationary Hospital on 9 October 1916 until 15 October 1916.
He had a spot of trouble with discipline as he was given 21 days Field Punishment No. 1 effective 21 December 1916 for being absent off Parade and drunkenness.
During this punishment, he suffered tonsillitis again and was admitted to No. 5 Canadian Field Ambulance on 29 December 1916, then to No. 4 Canadian Field Ambulance on 5 January 1917. He was discharged to duty on 10 January 1917.
He was killed in action on 29 May 1917. He may have been killed the day before as the war diary relates on 28 May 1917 the following,
“Enemy opened barrage on Battalion H.Q. MT. FORET QUARRIES, our Support Line at T.23.a.6. and our Front Line. The barrage on the Front Line lifted at 1.15 a.m. then two raiding parties, each estimated at 25 or 30 men, one on each side of the MT. FORET – ACHEVILLE ROAD, were seen approaching our wire. Fire was opened by M.G’s and rifles. Unable to get through the wire and checked by our fire the enemy retired. Of the party on the left frontage two of the enemy succeeded in getting through the wire, one of whom was severely wounded and taken, and the other gave himself up and was immediately sent back to Brigade H.Q. In the evening a dead German was brought in.
On the right frontage wiring was in progress and a N.C.O. and 6 men were well out front of our wire, when the barrage opened the N.C.O., Cpl. L. Skilton, gave orders for the party to retire. Immediately after the raiding party were seen and dispersed by our fire.
As soon as all quietened down a search party went out but failed to find the three men of the protecting patrol who were found not to have returned. Two rifles were found in a shell-hole but no other trace of them.
The night raiding party came on the road and immediately to the right of it. The left party about 250 yards from the road.
At daybreak Huns were seen carrying in casualties and stretchers were seen during the day on the BOUVRY ROAD also our observers report seeing 10 or 12 dead lying in no-man’s land today at T.18.c.6.5. Our casualties during the raid were 3 men Missing, 1 man Killed and 1 man wounded.”
He has no known grave.
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 