No. 3153  Private Arthur Leslie Tarran
[Listed as Tarran, L. on the Werribee RSL Honor Board]
Arthur Leslie Tarran was born on 26 October 1893 in Yanac, Victoria, to Sybilla Jane Bolwell, age 24, and James Aluteus Henry Tarran, age 28. His parents married in 1889. James Tarran passed away in 1894.

He had a brother Henrey George Tarran (1890-1965) and a sister Winifred Jane Tarran (1892-1937). The 1913 electoral rolls have Henrey George working on a farm in Werribee.

His brother married Ruby Beatrice Beddison on 21 October 1914 in Victoria. They had six children during their marriage. His son Desmond was born on 24 January 1916 in Werribee, Victoria.

War Service
Arthur joined the 22nd Battalion 5th Reinforcements on 19 July 1915. After less than five months he was discharged at Broadmeadows on 6 December 1915. The reason for his discharge was listed as physical debility.

[Debility is a broad medical term used to describe someone who is in a state of weakness and often refers to a loss of ability. When in a state of debility, everything seems an effort and what you used to enjoy doing now seems to take too much energy.]

He then joined the 39th Battalion/7th Reinforcements on 17 October 1916 in Ballarat.  The 39th Battalion was first formed on 21 February 1916 at the Ballarat Showgrounds, in Victoria.

His date of embarkation from Melbourne was the 19 February 1917 on the HMAT Ballarat. He disembarked at Devenport, Pymouth on 25 April 1917, and Proceeded overseas to France from Southampton on 20 August 1917.

He returned on the Orontes on 28 June 1919 and was discharged on 7 August 1919.

Post War
An article in the local press, "Return to Aussie. I.O.R. Extends Welcome" - "...tendered a welcome home to two of their returned brethren. Privates L. Stewart and L. Tarran."
Werribee Shire Banner, 21 August 1919, p.2.

Electoral Rolls 1919-1924 have Arthur Leslie Tarran at Werribee (farmer). They also have a Henry George Tarran, his brother, at Werribee (farmer) in 1913-1924 Electoral Rolls.

Arthur married Irene Dora Gardiner (1900–1930) in 1920.  Their son, Norman Leslie, was born on 15 October 1922 in Footscray, Victoria.

The 1924 Electoral Rolls have Arthur and Irene listed at Werribee. His brother Henry and his wife Ruby are also listed. Irene is listed at Melbourne Road, Werribee.

Les sold his farm to leave for Manangatang in July 1925.
Werribee Shire Banner, 23 July 1925, p.5.

Leslie's wife Irene died in 1930.  Her sudden death was reported in both the Horsham and Werribee newpapers.
Horsham Times, 1 April 1930, p.3.
Werribee Shire Banner, 6 March 1930, p.2.

Arthur married Winifred Marion Coghill (1892–1968) in Strathfieldsaye, Victoria, in 1932 when he was 39 years old.

The 1937 Electoral Rolls from Wimmera, Ultima have Arthur, Winifred, Henry and Ruby at Manangatang, which is a remote town in north-west Victoria.

His mother Sybilla Jane passed away on 16 December 1941 in Dimboola, Victoria, at the age of 72.

The 1954 Electoral Roll from Darebin, Reservoir have Arthur and Winifred living at 5 Broughton Avenue, Reservoir, Victoria.

Arthur Leslie Tarran died on 12 July 1959 in Regent, Victoria, aged 65.

Medals and Entitlements

• British War Medal
• Victory Medal 

National Archives of Australia
http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/NameSearch/Interface/NameSearchForm.aspx

Trove
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/search?adv=y

AIF Project
https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/

Ancestry
https://www.ancestrylibrary.com.au/

Australian Electoral Rolls for Werribee and Laverton