25617 Private Wallace Fletcher Tomlinson, (15/8/1896-21/2/1917). "he saw his duty"

Wallace Tomlinson's Army resocord has a tantalising few qwords to say about what happened to him on the 21st of February, 1917.  Those words are: "Reported missing, believed wounded 21/2/17. Finding of C. of E. (court of enquiry) missing 21/2/1917. Reported dead buried by Germans no date given. Killed in action in the field France 21/2/1917."

Perhaps Wallace took part in the following action, being part of the "assistance" lent the Aucklanders on their trench raid on February 21st.  Reported missing, and then buried by the Germans would make sense if he had joined a raid to enemy positions and not returned. The Wellington Infantry Regiment's Official History tells the story:

On the 14th February, the 2nd Battalion relieved 1st Auckland in the left sub-sector of the Brigade sector, so that both our battalions were in the line when 2nd Auckland carried out a raid at 5.45 a.m. on the 21st. That battalion raided from the trenches held by our 2nd Battalion, who lent what assistance it could in the operation. The duck-walks of the front line along the length occupied by the raiders immediately prior to raiding, and the communication saps leading from it back to the support line were covered with straw, over which hessing fabric was nailed down. This had the effect of deadening the sound of the men moving up to position, and of the withdrawal of the front line garrison. All telephonic communications were overhauled and relaid, and emergency lines were laid at all vulnerable points. Stretchers and bearers were placed at the junction of the support line with City Post and Bay Avenue. These were to carry the wounded from the front line to the Regimental Aid Post. The Regimental Medical Officer (Capt. H. M. Goldstein) and his staff were placed at the disposal of the O.C. Raid and shared with the R.M.O., 2nd Auckland, the work of dressing and despatching the wounded to the Field Ambulance. During and after the raid, both our 1st and 2nd Battalions had to submit to the enemy's retaliation. Our 1st Battalion had three men killed and the 2nd Battalion one wounded, the enemy's fire being ill-directed on the 2nd Battalion's front.

DEATH.

TOMLINSON. — Wallace Fletcher, eldest and dearly beloved son of Samuel Fletcher and Ada Tomlinson, Cobden. Died abroad, 1917. Aged 20 years. — "He saw his duty and he did it"  -Greymouth Evening Star, 6/8/1917.

Ashburton Cemetery.