4/1340 - Sapper

Sylvester

DARGAN

Main Body - Section No.2

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

16 March

From the Front

The Company joined the underground warfare in the North of France

Chantecler, Sector of Arras

1916

24 March

Awarded 3 days Field Punishment No.1 for disobedience

1916

20 September

Granted leave

1916

29 September

Rejoined the Company

1916

3 November

Admitted to hospital

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

1916

23 November

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1916

23 December

Rejoined the Company

1917

1917

7 January

Detached to Mine School as Batman

1917

17 January

Rejoined the Company

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 July

Granted leave

1917

22 July

Rejoined the Company

1917

13 November

Gassed

Admitted to hospital

1917

17 November

Embarked for England

1917

19 November

Admitted to hospital

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

18 January

Granted leave

1918

1 February

Marched in to NZ Depot, Boscombe

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

29 July

Marched in to NZ Depot, Torquay

1918

8 August

100 Days Offensive

Allied Attacks

1918

7 September

Transfer to New Zealand

S.S. Remuera

1918

11 November

Armistice

Cessation of Hostilities

1918

23 November

Final discharge

End of Service

1920

13 July

Died of disease

On account of his war service, Waipukurau

Resting place

Waihi Public Cemetery, New Zealand

Grave reference

Section 170/176. Block C. Plot N. 176. G3

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 W5537 14/0031806, Military Personnel File: Sylvester DARGAN - 4/1340.
  • Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira, Online Cenotaph He Toa Taumata Rau: Sylvester DARGAN.
  • Nominal Roll of New Zealand Expeditionary Force, 1915. New Zealand Engineers Tunnelling Company, Wellington, Government Printer, 1916, p. 3.

How to cite this page

Anthony BYLEDBAL, “Sylvester DARGAN (4/1340)”, New Zealand Tunnellers, 2024 (2009). Accessed: 13 December 2024. URL: https://www.nztunnellers.com/roll/details.php?id=191