My grandfather George McLaren mentions seeing George Alexander Dolphin in his ww1 diary (D#2 - P17) ...

"Saturday 5th August 1916 - went and had a hot bath in the afternoon. Saw Andy & Archie Craig in the evening, saw Jack Hall, saw Al Dolphin at baths".

This would have been back in Armentieres as George was doing nightly trips to the front at this stage ... either working in or manning the front lines.

George was from Goodwood near Parlmerston in Otago. As a lad, he worked for his father Alexander McLaren who had a carrying business (using bullocks) from Palmerston up to Central Otago via the Pigroot track (where Mr Dolphin was born) ... and the records show that his mother was his next of kin from Palmerston, so they knew each other from before the war.