21371 - Sergeant Major

James

FLETCHER

2nd Reinforcements

Timeline


1916

1916

8 March

Enlistment

Wellington Military District

1916

4 May

Initial training

Narrow Neck, Auckland

1916

26 June

Transfer to England

HMNZT 56 - Maunganui

1916

22 August

Marched in to NZ Sling Camp, Bulford

Reverted to Sapper

1916

24 August

Appointed temporary Sergeant

1916

22 September

Embarked for France

1916

23 September

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1916

3 November

Joined the Company

Relinquished appointment of temporary Sergeant

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

6 January

Admitted to hospital with a gunshot wound to the left thigh

1917

24 January

Embarked for England

1917

26 January

Admitted to hospital

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

12 July

Granted leave to United Kingdom

1917

27 July

Marched in to NZ Depot, Christchurch

1917

17 September

Promoted Lance Corporal

1917

13 October

Embarked for France

1917

14 October

Relinquished appointment of Lance Corporal

1917

15 October

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1917

22 October

Rejoined the Company

1917

31 October

Promoted Lance Corporal

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

17 February

Promoted 2nd Corporal

Detached to Gas School

1918

23 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

24 March

Promoted temporary Corporal

1918

8 July

Promoted Corporal

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

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

22 February

Forfeited 2 days pay by Royal Warrant and reprimanded for absence without leave

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 103/0040742, Military Personnel File: James FLETCHER - 21371.
  • Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira, Online Cenotaph He Toa Taumata Rau: James FLETCHER.
  • 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, “James FLETCHER (21371)”, New Zealand Tunnellers, 2024 (2009). Accessed: 29 March 2024. URL: https://www.nztunnellers.com/roll/details.php?id=273