Public Contributions:

The following is an excerpt from "From the Uttermost Ends of the Earth" by John H Gray. Willson Scott (2010) page 70 “2nd Auckland mounted the last major raid on the enemy trenches. At dawn on 21 F...ebruary a raiding party in excess of 500 all ranks following behind a major artillery bombardment found the enemy wire well cut. It penetrated both the first and second lines, killed an estimated 200 enemy and took 44 prisoners before returning. While the raid was judged “a conspicuous success” and even attracted a congratulatory message from the Commander-in-Chief, it was something of a Pyrrhic victory as 2nd Auckland had 159 casualties including 18 killed and 60 missing.” This was the day that Clarence Victor Tarlin was wounded, he died of wounds on 22 February 1917. He was a member of the 2nd Auckland Division. I believe he was one of the '60 missing' in the last sentence. Anne Letham-White 30/07/15 Read More


Clarence Tarlin (1898-1917), known as Clarrie by his family, was the only son of Alfred John Alexander Tarlin (1875-1901) and his wife Clara (née Brittain) (1879-1950). Alfred Tarlin was a Gunner in... the NZ Mounted Rifles during the South African War of 1899-1902. Gunner A J A Tarlin died at the age of 25 after 'straining his heart while working the guns' in training at Devonport, Auckland. He died on the 24th of April 1901 at the home in Church St, Devonport he shared with his wife Clara, infant son Clarence Victor and infant daughter Hazel Lilian. Clara Tarlin subsequently remarried in 1910 and Clarence and Hazel were brought up by their mother and stepfather Matthew Jacobsen in Titirangi, Auckland. Clarence Victor attended Avondale School and Auckland Grammar and enlisted while under military age after leaving school and working as a labourer for the Auckland City Council Waterworks Department in Titirangi. He enlisted in the Auckland Infantry Regiment, second battalion and subsequently embarked to France via Devon England, on the ship Aparima on the 19th August 1916. Clarence Victor was listed as missing on 21st February 1917 and it was subsequently announced that he had been captured on that date and died of wounds on the 22nd February 1917 shortly after his arrival at the German prison camp. [Record since amended - NZWGT] Read More