21435 - Sapper

John

FINNIE

2nd Reinforcements

Timeline


1916

1916

4 May

Enlistment

Auckland Military District

Initial training

Narrow Neck, Auckland

1916

26 June

Transfer to England

HMNZT 56 - Maunganui

1916

27 July

Awarded 7 days extra fatigue, forfeited 1 day pay by Royal Warrant and fined 4/- for breaking ranks when on parade

1916

22 August

Marched in to NZ Sling Camp, Bulford

1916

22 September

Embarked for France

1916

23 September

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1916

3 November

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

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

24 August

Granted leave

1917

4 September

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

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 June

Promoted Lance Corporal

1918

10 July

Promoted 2nd Corporal

1918

8 August

100 Days Offensive

Allied Attacks

1918

25 September

Granted leave to United Kingdom

1918

27 September

From the Front

The Company experienced its newly reconversion in bridge construction

In front of the Havrincourt Bridge

1918

5 October

Appointed temporary Corporal

1918

11 October

Rejoined the Company

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

5 January

Promoted Sergeant

1919

22 January

Discharged

1919

29 January

Embarked for England

1919

30 January

Marched in to NZ Depot, Larkhill

1919

15 February

Marched in to NZ Depot, Codford

1919

14 March

Transfer to New Zealand

R.M.S. Ionic

1919

22 May

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 96/0040083, Military Personnel File: John FINNIE - 21435.
  • Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira, Online Cenotaph He Toa Taumata Rau: John FINNIE.
  • Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Wellington, Government Printer, 1914-1919, Volume II, Roll N°34, p. 41.

How to cite this page

Anthony BYLEDBAL, “John FINNIE (21435)”, New Zealand Tunnellers, 2024 (2009). Accessed: 22 December 2024. URL: https://www.nztunnellers.com/roll/details.php?id=267