My grandfather George McLaren (12/2419) was a Sargent in the 1st Auckland Battalion and knew Ernest Bollard well. He was known as Tom ... and mentioned several times in George's WW1 diary. George details a raid on the German trenches on 23rd of June 1917 and Tom's tragic death ...

"Saturday 23rd of June - Our mob 16th Waikato & 2&4 platoons of the 3rd raided Fritz last night, very successful and about 12 prisoners, old Tom Bollard got pretty badly wounded"

"Tuesday 26th of June - Heard yesterday that poor old Tom Bollard died of his wounds".


Today we remember Tom Bollard ... may he rest in peace.