4/1347 - Sapper

James Lawrence

FINLAY

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

8 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

23 March

Marched in to NZ Depot, Hornchurch

1916

3 June

Embarked for France

1916

6 June

Rejoined the Company

1916

25 August

Forfeited 7 days pay for being absent from parade

1916

26 September

Admitted to hospital

1916

29 September

Diagnosed with hernia

1916

5 October

Embarked for England

1916

7 October

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

2 December

Marched in to NZ Depot, Codford

1917

1917

18 January

Marched in to NZ Depot, Boscombe

Detached to NZ Expeditionary Force Headquarters, London

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

3 July

Awarded 168 hours detention and forfeited 1 day pay by Royal Warrant for breaking out of camp and absence without leave

Embarked for France

1917

5 July

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1917

13 July

Rejoined the Company

1917

23 October

Accidentally wounded at the head in the performance of his duty

Admitted to hospital

1917

5 November

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

18 February

Admitted to hospital

1918

1 March

Diagnosed with anemia

1918

4 March

Diagnosed with bladder infection

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 April

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1918

21 April

Rejoined the Company

1918

8 August

100 Days Offensive

Allied Attacks

1918

23 August

Granted leave to United Kingdom

1918

2 September

Admitted to hospital with cystitis

1918

25 September

Classified unfit for active service

1918

27 September

From the Front

The Company experienced its newly reconversion in bridge construction

In front of the Havrincourt Bridge

1918

11 October

Granted leave to United Kingdom

1918

25 October

Marched in to NZ Depot, Torquay

1918

28 October

Admitted to hospital with venereal disease

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

1918

26 November

Marched in to NZ Depot, Torquay

1918

23 December

Transfer to New Zealand

S.S. Briton

1919

1919

27 February

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: James Lawrence FINLAY.
  • 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, “James Lawrence FINLAY (4/1347)”, New Zealand Tunnellers, 2024 (2009). Accessed: 22 December 2024. URL: https://www.nztunnellers.com/roll/details.php?id=266