George Ernest TAPP

Regimental number11354
Date of birth21 October 1892
Place of birthOwaka
ReligionMethodist
OccupationBaker
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation23
Height5' 5.5"
Weight157 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs J W Tapp, Green Island, Dunedin
Previous military serviceServed in Boys Scouts, Green Island; still serving at time of NZEF enlistment.
Enlistment date13 January 1916
Place of enlistmentTrentham
Rank on embarkationPrivate
Unit nameNew Zealand Expeditionary Force, 12th Reinforcements (1st Draft), Otago Infantry Battalion, D Company
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Wellington on board Ulimoroa on 1 May 1916
Final rankLance Corporal
Final unit2nd Battalion, Otago Infantry Regiment
FateKilled in Action 12 October 1917
Age at death from cemetery records25
Place of burialPasschandaele New British Cemetery (Plot XVI, Row D, Grave No 9), nr Ieper, Belgium
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records		Parents: John William and Margaret Tapp, Neil Street, Green Island, Dunedin
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Embarked Wellington, 1 May 1916; disembarked Suez, 9 June 1916.

Embarked Alexandria, 26 July 1916; disembarked Southampton, England, 7 August 1916; marched into Sling Camp, 8 August 1916.

Proceeded overseas to France, 20 August 1916; joined 2nd Bn, Otago Infantry Regiment, in the field, 22 September 1916, and posted to 14th Company.

Admitted to No 3 NZ Field Ambulance, 8 November 1916 (gastro-enteritis); transferred to No 1 NZ Field Ambulance, 9 November 1916; to No 2 NZ Field Ambulance (Divisional Rest Station), 10 November 1916; discharged to unit, 25 November 1916, and rejoined Bn same day.

Attached to NZ Working Bn, 12 March 1917; rejoined unit, 15 April 1917.

Detached to Reinforcements Camp, 5 June 1917; rejoined unit, 19 June 1917.

Appointed Lance Corporal, 20 June 1917.

Appointed Cook as from 1 June 1917; relinquished appointment as Cook, 19 June 1917.

On leave to United Kingdom, 23 August 1917; rejoined unit from leave, 3 September 1917.

Wounded in action, 12 October 1917.

Court of Enquiry, 19 November 1917, concluded: 'Killed in action, 12 October 1917'.

Evidence to Court: 22258 Pte A. MATHESON, 14th Company, 2nd Bn, Otago Infantry Regiment: 'I saw G.E. Tapp during the advance on Belle Vue Spur, on 10 Oct. 1917. He was then wounded in three places. I also saw Sgt Duncan (now in England) who told me that Tapp had been dangerously wounded in the head & that he was trying to go back under very heavy shell-fire.'

22257 Pte J. MANSON, 14th Company, 2nd Bn, Otago Infantry Regiment: 'I saw Tapp lying in a shell hole during the advance on Bell Vue Spur on 12 Oct. 1917. He was then wounded in three places.'

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNominal Roll Vol. 2: Roll 30, p. 14
Archives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805, File 7823817