4/1565 - Sapper

John Eugene

CULLEN

1st Reinforcements

Timeline


1915

1915

16 October

Enlistment

Auckland Military District

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

7 March

Stationed at Falmouth

1916

16 March

From the Front

The Company joined the underground warfare in the North of France

Chantecler, Sector of Arras

1916

23 March

Marched in to NZ Depot, Hornchurch

1916

3 June

Embarked for France

1916

6 June

Joined 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

24 March

Admitted to hospital with hernia

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

6 May

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1917

17 July

Appointed Cook

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

14 January

Relinquished appointment of Cook

1918

21 January

Granted leave to United Kingdom

1918

9 February

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1918

27 February

Classified unfit for service in the field

Embarked for England

1918

28 February

Marched in to NZ Depot, Torquay

1918

9 March

Classified unfit for active service

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

8 August

Transfer to New Zealand

S.S. Paparoa

1918

11 November

Armistice

Cessation of Hostilities

1919

1919

7 January

Final discharge

End of Service

Decoration

British War Medal
British War Medal

Victory Medal
Victory Medal

Sources and bibliography

  • Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira, Online Cenotaph He Toa Taumata Rau: John Eugene CULLEN.
  • Nominal Roll of New Zealand Expeditionary Force, 1915. New Zealand Engineers Tunnelling Company, Wellington, Government Printer, 1916, p. 7.

How to cite this page

Anthony BYLEDBAL, “John Eugene CULLEN (4/1565)”, New Zealand Tunnellers, 2024 (2009). Accessed: 21 December 2024. URL: https://www.nztunnellers.com/roll/details.php?id=179