Lieutenant Eric Coppin BING
2nd Kent Battery, 2/3rd Home Counties (Cinque Ports) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery

Date of birth: 6th October 1896
Date of death: 15th August 1915

Killed on active service aged 18
Buried at St Martin's Churchyard, Canterbury
He was born in Canterbury on the 6th of October 1896 the only son of Charles Bing OKS, a pharmacist and mineral water manufacturer, and Emily Louisa (nee Coppin) of Old Rectory House, St George’s Street, Canterbury in Kent.

He was educated at the Junior King’s School from January 1905 and at the King’s School Canterbury where he was a day boy to July 1914. He came second in the school steeplechase in 1912 and played for the 2nd XV Rugby team in 1912/13. He was awarded his colours for Rugby in 1912 and received his sports colours in 1913. He was a Private in the Officer Training Corps for four years and attended three annual camps from 1911 to 1913 as well as achieving a 1st Class certificate in musketry.

Following the outbreak of war he applied for a commission in the 2/3rd (Home Counties) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery on the 31st of December 1914. At a medical examination, which was undertaken on the same day, it was recorded that he was six feet one and a half inches tall. His application was supported by Mr C.W. Bell MA, Second Master of the King's School Canterbury. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on the 27th of January 1915 and was posted to the 2nd Kent Battery. he was promoted to Lieutenant on the 28th of June 1915. He had been attending a three week course of artillery training at Bethune in France and had returned for further instruction at home before returning with his Brigade.

Soon after his return he borrowed a motor-cycle from a fellow officer. He was travelling down the Chevening Road at Chipstead near Sevenoaks when his machine hit the kerb and he was thrown from the motor cycle and landed on his head. He was taken to a nearby house where he was attended by a local doctor but died of his injuries a short time later.

On the evening of his death his commanding officer, writing from his base at Riverhead, reported the incident to the War Office:-

"Sir,
I regret to have to confirm my telegraphic message of this evening announcing the death of the marginally named officer. The deceased started out from Chipstead this afternoon about 3.30 to try the motor bicycle belonging to a brother officer. He was a good rider and there was no reason to anticipate danger. He had only gone a little distance and was evidently returning, when he appears to have had a bad skid and it is reported that he was flung over the front of the machine and turned a complete somersault. He was picked up unconscious and passed away at 3.55 without having regained consciousness. His relatives were immediately wired to, warning them of the seriousness of the accident, and a friend of the family had been telephoned to also since the death, in order that the news may be broken to his parents. Deceased is the only son of Charles Bing Esq., the Old Rectory, Canterbury. The civil police have taken the matter in hand and are communicating with the coroner."

He was buried with full military honours with the King's School Officer Training Corps in attendance.

He is commemorated on the Canterbury war memorial at the Buttermarket.

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