| Regimental number | 32681 |
| Date of birth | |
| Place of birth | Wanganui |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Carpenter |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 20 |
| Height | 5' 9.5" |
| Weight | 144 lbs |
| Next of kin | Mother, Mrs J Kench Snr, 44 Bell Street, Wanganui |
| Previous military service | Served in 7th Regiment, Territorial Force; still serving at time of NZEF enlistment. |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Trentham |
| Rank on embarkation | Private |
| Unit name | New Zealand Expeditionary Force, 19th Reinforcements, Otago Infantry Battalion, D Company |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Wellington on |
| The Infantry component of the 19th Reinforcements left New Zealand on board two ships, 'Maunganui' and 'Tahiti'. It is not possible from the Nominal Rolls to determine on which ship an individual embarked. | |
| Final rank | Private |
| Final unit | 1st Battalion, Otago Infantry Regiment |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 18 |
| Place of burial | No known grave |
| Commemoration details | Tyne Cot Memorial (New Zealand Apse, Panel 3), Tyne Cot Cemetery, Belgium |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: James and Mary Ann Kench, 18 Copeland Street, Wanganui |
| Other details |
War service: Western Front Embarked Wellington, 15 November 1916; disembarked Devonport, England, 29 January 1917, and marched into Sling Camp. Proceeded overseas to France, 1 March 1917; joined 1st Bn, Otago Infantry Regiment, in the field, 21 May 1917, and posted to 8th Company. Detached to 2nd Brigade as Carrier, 5 June 1917; rejoined B, 10 June 1917. Detached for duty as 2nd Brigade Carrier, 12 June 1917; rejoined Bn, 13 June 1917. Wounded in action, 3 October 1917 (gun shot wound, left forearm), and admitted to No 4 NZ Field Ambulance, and transferred to 10th Australian Field Ambulance; rejoined unit, 10 October 1917. Killed in action, 12 October 1917. Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Sources | Nominal Roll Vol. 2: Roll 45, p. 14 Archives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805, File 18056241 |