SOLDIERS WOUNDED OR KILLED - 1917

AUCKLAND WEEKLY NEWS

Tribute to Jacqueline Walles

TARLIN, Corporal Clarence V, Titirangi, was first reported missing and believed to be wounded on 21 February. He was later reported to be seriously wounded and a prisoner of war and finally was officially reported to have died on 22 February whilst a prisoner of war at Lemberg. He was a son of the late Gunner A J Tarlin of Devonport and of Mrs. Clara JACOBSON, now of Titirangi. He was in the employ of the City Council's waterworks department at Titirangi. [AWN 26.07.1917]

TAYLOR, Sergeant Joseph C, who was accidentally killed by a shell in France, was the second son of Mr. Joseph Taylor of Karangahape Road and was 27 years of age. He saw much active service in France, going right through the battle of the Somme. Prior to enlisting he was on the clerical staff of the Railway Dept and at times was stationed at Te Aroha, Te Kuiti, Taumarunui and finally at Helensville. He was a keen sportsman and played football for the Railway team, both in Wellington and Auckland. [AWN 27.09.1917]

TAYLOR, Sapper Jones of the original Tunnelling Corps, who had been invalided home suffering from the effects of gas received in France, died in Waihi Hospital on Thursday. He was interred at the Waihi Cemetery after a military funeral conducted by. Rev George LOHORE in the rites of the Druidic order. [AWN 05.04.1917]

TE KOOTU, Private H P, Pioneer Battalion, is at Walton Hospital from France with a severe gunshot wound in the right arm. He recently jumped in at the back of a wagon whose two horses had bolted and by moving along the pole nearly to the horses heads, he succeeded in stopping the runaways just short of the junction to certain roads where there is always considerable traffic. The presence of mind and prompt action displayed, undoubtedly averted a bad incident and possible loss of life. [AWN 26.07.1917]

THOMAS, Gunner Reginald Augustus, son of Mr. J A Thomas, of Waharoa, has been admitted to Walton on Thames Hospital suffering from a dislocated elbow. Gunner Thomas left NZ as a sergeant and with his brother Sydney was transferred into the artillery in Egypt before leaving for France. Prior to enlisting he was engaged in cheese making at Kaupokonui, Taranaki. [AWN 03.05.1917]

THOMPSETT, Second Lieutenant Norman, NZIA, killed in action on 12 October, was a native of Kent. He was an architect by profession. He went to the front with an early reinforcement and saw service at Gallipoli. He was invalided to England as the result of enteric fever and after a prolonged convalescence at Hornchurch, proceeded to the western front where he was transferred from the Auckland Battalion to the Otago Battalion. He was selected on the field for a commission and after qualifying in England he returned to the firing line. [AWN 15.11.1917]

THOMPSON, Lieutenant A S, who has been killed in action, was the youngest son of Mr. A S Thompson of Pakuranga, president of the Auckland Agricultural & Pastoral Assn. He was one of three sons who went to the front. One of the two surviving brothers has been wounded and has returned to duty. A fourth brother is engaged on war work. The general committee of the A & P Assn on meeting yesterday adjourned as a mark of respect to the late Lieutenant Thompson, after passing a resolution expressing condolences to his relatives and appreciation of the part that members of the family have taken in the war. [AWN 23.08.1917]

THOMPSON, Lieutenant Andrew Stevenson, youngest son of Mr. A S Thompson of Pakuranga, who was killed in action on 4 August, joined the Main Body in 1914 as a sergeant. He took part in the landing at Anzac and subsequent fighting at Gallipoli, including the attack on Achi Baba. On the evacuation of the peninsula, he was one of the last men to leave. He went to France with the NZ Division and took part in the operations on the Somme where he was wounded on 28 September, 1916. He was promoted to the rank of regimental sergeant major and received an award for meritorious conduct on New Year's Day 1917. Promotion to the rank of 2nd lieutenant followed on 26 May last. [AWN 25.10.1917]

TODD, Mr. T J, formerly of Auckland, fighting with the Australian Forces, has been promoted to rank of Brigadier General. He was well known in business in Auckland and prominent in sport, particularly football. In the Boer War he served with the 2nd NZ Contingent and gained the DSO for conduct I n the field. He was also in the NZ Contingent sent to England at the coronation of the late King Edward. Afterwards he left for Western Australia and settled in Perth. In the present war he left Australia as a Major in the Light Horse and in the course of time was promoted to the rank of Colonel, serving in the Dardanelles campaign and afterwards in Egypt. [AWN 22.03.1917]

TOSWILL, Lieutenant L W, Royal Warwickshire Regt, of Christchurch, has been wounded. He left NZ with the NZEF and received his commission after being wounded on Gallipoli. [AWN 31.05.1917]

TREVARTHEN, Private Alfred George, reported killed in action, was the sixth son of Mr. & Mrs. W H Trevarthen of Bayfield Rd, Ponsonby, 28 years of age and unmarried. He was born in Auckland, educated at Bayfield School and was well known in yachting circles. At the time of his enlistment he was in the employ of the Auckland Harbour Board. [AWN 15.03.1917]

TRIGG, Private Jocelyn B, who died on 10 July from wounds received at Messines, was the fourth son of Mrs. Trigg of Auckland and of the late Mr. W J Trigg, architect, of Te Puke and Rotorua. He was educated at the Te Puke School and enlisted in the second reinforcements from that district. He took part in the Gallipoli campaign, being wounded. Another brother, Ernest, who left with the 13th Reinforce-ments, was wounded at the Somme but is again in the firing line. [AWN 16.08.1917]

TUNKS, Corporal Wilfred D, killed in action, was the son of Mr. C J Tunks, solicitor, View Road, Mt Eden. He was 22 years of age and had been on active service for over two years. Born in Auckland, he was educated at King's College and the Grammar School. [AWN 01.11.1917]

TURNER, Bombardier William H, who has been awarded the Military Medal for gallantry in the field during the battle of Messines, is a son of Mr. William Turner, Melrose St, Newmarket. He enlisted in the Artillery of an early reinforcement and has since been continuously on active service. His brother, Bombardier Francis TURNER, is in the same unit and left with the same reinforcement. [AWN 12.07.1917]

TURNER, Major W, who has been killed, was an Otago schoolteacher. He was headmaster of the Balclutha District High School when he enlisted in 1915. [AWN 25.10.1917]

TWISLETON, Captain F M, Auckland Mounted Rifles, has died of wounds. He went with the 2nd Reinforcements, taking with him into camp forty members of the Poverty Bay squadron of the Legion of Frontiersmen. They were attached to the Otago Mounted Rifles to make up deficiencies. He gained the Military Cross for service on Gallipoli. When the troops were sent to France the Otago Mounted Rifles under his command were formed into a company of the Pioneer Battalion and he served with them throughout the Somme and Messines operations. Latterly there was further reorganisation and Capt Twistleton, who had been suffering in health, applied for a transfer to Palestine. This was apparently granted as he is listed with the Auckland Mounted Rifles. Mrs. Twisleton and children are at present residing in England. [AWN 29.11.1917]



UNDERWOOD, Out of five sons of Mr. William Underwood of Paparoa who have gone to the Front, three have now been heard of through the casualty lists. Percy UNDERWOOD died of wounds last October; Fred UNDERWOOD, was dangerously wounded at Gallipoli but recovered and was sent home and discharged as unfit for further service. Twice since then he has sought to re-enlist but has been rejected. Now Arthur UNDERWOOD has been sent from the Front to a hospital in England, dangerously ill. Arthur (sic) and Herbert UNDERWOOD, the remaining brothers, are still, as far as is known, in the firing line. Ernest UNDERWOOD, cousin of the five brothers, who was a member of their household, left NZ with the Main Body and has been wounded three times, on the last occasion seriously. [AWN 25.01.1917]

UPTON, 2nd Lieutenant F C R, Infantry, of Ashburton, has been awarded the Military Cross: "Led his platoon with great courage and initiative and organised a bombing party to repel an enemy attack. Later he carried out a most valuable reconnaissance." [AWN 11.01.1917]



VALOUR REWARDED [AWN 08.03.1917]

The presentation of four medals, three to the next of kin of members of the NZEF and one in person to a soldier, was made subsequent to the official reception of the invalided soldiers at the wharf at Auckland on Monday by Sir James Allen, Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Defence. He said his task was not without a measure of sadness. He regretted exceeding that three of the young men who had merited distinction for their brave and courageous conduct on the field of battle had not lived to personally receive the medal they had earned. The fact that so many New Zealanders had been singled out for decoration for meritorious conduct showed that they possessed the same great and noble virtues that were the heritage of every Britisher - courage, endurance, bravery and devotion to duty and last, but not least, loyalty to comrades and to country.

ALEXANDER, Lieutenant G D, Divisional Signal Co., NZE, deceased, Distinguished Conduct Medal
BEDGGOOD, Lance Corporal W W C, deceased, Military Medal
RIMMER, Gunner W C, deceased, Military Medal
FLEMING, Gunner R I, Devonport, Military Medal

Sir James Allen intimated that there were men who had returned on the hospital ship who had been awarded medals for bravery on the field.

VAZEY, Rifleman Eddie, who was killed in action at Messines on June 24, and who was awarded the Military Medal, was the son of Mr. E H Vazey of Newton. He attended the Newton East School and was captain of the football team, which won the school champion caps in 1912. He was only 18 years of age when he enlisted. He served his time as a linotype operator. His father fought and was wounded in the Maori War, whilst his grandfather, Mr. John Keefe, saw service in the Crimean War as a member of the 58th Regiment. [AWN 19.07.1917]

VICKERY, Company Sergeant Major E M, Divisional Signal Corps, NZE, has been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He has performed consistent good work throughout and has on several occasions repaired wires under heavy fire. [AWN 03.05.1917]

VICKERY, Sergeant Major E M, who is well known in Auckland, is one of the non-commissioned officers who were loaned by the Imperial authorities to the NZ Government in connection with the inauguration of the territorial military training scheme a few years ago. Prior to coming to NZ he was connected with the Royal Engineers for 13 years. Before the war he was attached for some time to the Auckland district headquarters staff as instructor in field telegraph and telephone work. He left for the front with the signal section and served on Gallipoli some time before being invalided to England. He is a native of London and comes of a family of fighters. [AWN 04.01.1917]

VINCENT, Sergeant G A, son of Mrs. J Fowler, Kingsland, has been awarded the Military Medal for bravery on the field. He volunteered to go forward under heavy artillery and machine-gun fire to obtain information. He got to within 60 yards of the enemy front line returning with the required information although he had to pass through a hail of machine-gun bullets. He again went out and manned a Lewis gun near the enemy lines and held on with eight men for 38 hours. [AWN 01.11.1917]

VINCENT, Private Mark, killed in action, was the youngest son of Mr. W Vincent of Ngaruawahia. He left with the Main Body and had been on active service ever since. He was in the landing at Gallipoli and was wounded some months later. He left with the first troops for France. He was in the NZ Divisional Signalling Co. of the 3rd, Auckland, Company. He was well known in football circles. [AWN 29.11.1917]