4/1619 - Lance Corporal

Harold

HIGGINS

1st Reinforcements

Timeline


1915

1915

6 October

Enlistment

Auckland Military District

1915

11 October

Initial training

Avondale, Auckland

1915

18 December

Transfer to England

S.S. Ruapehu

1916

1916

3 February

Marched in to the Company Training Camp, Falmouth

1916

9 March

Embarked for France

1916

10 March

Admitted to hospital with venereal disease

1916

16 March

From the Front

The Company joined the underground warfare in the North of France

Chantecler, Sector of Arras

1916

22 April

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1916

17 May

Admitted to hospital with influenza

1916

20 May

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1916

14 June

Rejoined the Company

1916

16 November

From the Front

The Company began the operations to connect old underground quarries in Arras in order to accommodate thousands of soldiers for an upcoming battle

1917

1917

9 April

Battle of Arras

British Offensive


From the Front

The Company was employed to rebuild a major road leading to the Front during the battle

Arras-Cambrai Road

1917

5 May

From the Front

The Company moved to Monchy, ten kilometres east of Arras, to work on the fortification of the new front line

The Billets in Monchy

1917

28 May

Appointed temporary 2nd Corporal

1917

25 July

Appointed temporary Corporal

1917

29 August

Promoted Corporal

1917

28 November

Granted leave

1917

13 December

Rejoined the Company

1918

From the Front

The Company was still carrying out the digging of underground premises and defences on the Front near Arras

The Workshop in Arras

1918

15 January

Admitted to hospital

1918

17 January

Diagnosed with disorderly action of the heart

1918

22 January

Embarked for England

Admitted to hospital

1918

21 February

Marched in to NZ Depot, Hornchurch

1918

21 March

Spring Offensive

German Attacks


From the Front

The Company was engaged in the defence of Arras by digging new trenches and dug-outs under constant enemy shellfire

1918

23 May

Classified unfit for active service

1918

17 June

Marched in to NZ Depot, Torquay

1918

8 August

Transfer to New Zealand

S.S. Paparoa

1918

11 November

Armistice

Cessation of Hostilities

1919

1919

18 November

Final discharge

End of Service

Decoration

British War Medal
British War Medal

Victory Medal
Victory Medal

Sources and bibliography

  • Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga, AABK 18805 W5539 120/0054405, Military Personnel File: Harold HIGGINS - 4/1619.
  • Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira, Online Cenotaph He Toa Taumata Rau: Harold HIGGINS.
  • Nominal Roll of New Zealand Expeditionary Force, 1915. New Zealand Engineers Tunnelling Company, Wellington, Government Printer, 1916, p. 8.

How to cite this page

Anthony BYLEDBAL, “Harold HIGGINS (4/1619)”, New Zealand Tunnellers, 2024 (2009). Accessed: 28 March 2024. URL: https://www.nztunnellers.com/roll/details.php?id=383