37499 - Sapper

Arthur George

DOWNES

3rd Reinforcements

Timeline


1916

1916

4 October

Enlistment

Auckland Military District

Initial training

Narrow Neck, Auckland

1916

15 November

Transfer to England

HMNZT 69 - Tahiti

1916

24 December

Admitted to hospital at sea with enteritis

1916

30 December

Returned to duty

1917

1917

29 January

Marched in to NZ Depot, Boscombe

1917

23 February

Admitted to hospital with Inflammation of the Connective Tissue of right forearm

1917

6 March

Marched in to NZ Depot, Boscombe

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

21 May

Admitted to hospital with Inflammation of the Connective Tissue of nose

1917

29 May

Marched in to NZ Depot, Christchurch

1917

3 July

Embarked for France

1917

5 July

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1917

13 July

Joined the Company

1917

3 September

Admitted to hospital with trench fever

1917

21 September

Embarked for England

1917

22 September

Admitted to hospital

1917

8 December

Granted leave to United Kingdom

1917

27 December

Marched in to NZ Depot, Boscombe

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

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

9 May

Embarked for France

1918

11 May

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1918

17 May

Rejoined the Company

1918

8 August

100 Days Offensive

Allied Attacks

1918

27 September

From the Front

The Company experienced its newly reconversion in bridge construction

In front of the Havrincourt Bridge

1918

2 November

Admitted to hospital with hernia

1918

11 November

Armistice

Cessation of Hostilities


From the Front

The Company continued to build bridges to reconnect a fragmented territory

Over the Sambre River, Maubeuge
1919

1919

22 January

Embarked for England

1919

24 January

Admitted to hospital

1919

15 April

Marched in to NZ Depot, Larkhill

1919

2 June

Marched in to NZ Sling Camp, Bulford

1919

14 July

Transfer to New Zealand

S.S. Athenic

1919

29 September

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: Arthur George DOWNES.
  • Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Wellington, Government Printer, 1914-1919, Volume II, Roll N°45, p. 36.

How to cite this page

Anthony BYLEDBAL, “Arthur George DOWNES (37499)”, New Zealand Tunnellers, 2024 (2009). Accessed: 22 December 2024. URL: https://www.nztunnellers.com/roll/details.php?id=214