37618 - Sapper

William John

DYER

4th Reinforcements

Timeline


1917

1917

8 January

Enlistment

Auckland Military District

Initial training

Narrow Neck, Auckland

1917

16 February

Transfer to England

HMNZT 76 - Aparima

1917

2 May

Marched in to NZ Depot, Christchurch

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

3 July

Embarked for France

1917

5 July

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1917

13 July

Joined the Company

1917

8 December

Admitted to hospital with myalgia

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

30 January

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1918

8 February

Rejoined the Company

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

15 July

Sick with influenza

1918

16 July

Returned to duty

1918

8 August

100 Days Offensive

Allied Attacks

1918

18 August

Granted leave to United Kingdom

1918

4 September

Rejoined the Company

1918

27 September

From the Front

The Company experienced its newly reconversion in bridge construction

In front of the Havrincourt Bridge

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

6 January

Admitted to hospital

1919

25 January

Diagnosed with pneumonia

1919

28 January

Embarked for England

1919

29 January

Admitted to hospital

1919

28 May

Marched in to NZ Sling Camp, Bulford

1919

17 June

Transfer to New Zealand

S.S. Briton

1919

20 August

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 W5537 61/0036544, Military Personnel File: William John DYER - 37618.
  • Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira, Online Cenotaph He Toa Taumata Rau: William John DYER.
  • Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Wellington, Government Printer, 1914-1919, Volume III, Roll N°55, p. 39.

How to cite this page

Anthony BYLEDBAL, “William John DYER (37618)”, New Zealand Tunnellers, 2024 (2009). Accessed: 20 April 2024. URL: https://www.nztunnellers.com/roll/details.php?id=234